BCGEU members vote on B.C. Place contract this week

Four-year tentative agreement addresses staffing shortages leading to 2010 Olympics

Vancouver (15 May 2007) - The British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) has reached a tentative agreement with B.C. Pavilion Corp., the government agency responsible for B.C. Place Stadium.

A ratification vote is scheduled this week. The union is recommending acceptance of the proposed four-year contract. Approximately 250 BCGEU members, who work as hosts and technicians, and in security and housekeeping jobs, are affected.

A feature of the agreement is a union proposal to help the employer address event staffing shortages leading up to the Olympics. The stadium will be the primary venue for 2010 Olympic ceremonies.

"Our union offered to play a proactive role in working with the employer to attract and retain workers - an increasing concern as the Olympic Games draw near," notes BCGEU president George Heyman. "We are pleased that the employer has agreed to our initiative, as part of this new agreement."

Decreases contracting out

Heyman says that the union's efforts could include encouraging underemployed BCGEU members in local private sector work places to apply for additional work with B.C. Place.

"We are also pleased that we have achieved language that increases our members' ability to gain additional work and decreases the employer's reliance on contracting out," he adds.

"Overall, we believe our proposals to build a stable workforce will save taxpayers money and improve service and security for BC Place events, including the Olympics."

Under the new four year collective agreement, workers will receive annual wage increases of 3%, 2.5%, 2% and 2%. They will also be eligible for the signing bonus offered to public sector employees. There will also be benefit improvements for part-time and event-time staff.