BCGEU Members Reject Latest VIRL Proposal
March 4, 2022
Friday, March 4, 2022 – late yesterday, VIRL learned that members of the British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) Local 702 at Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) had rejected the employer’s March 01, 2022 proposal. BCGEU members may legally strike at any time.
It is regrettable that an agreement has not yet been achieved. VIRL remains focused on the mediation process. The latest VIRL proposal included two term options, each featuring compensation increases beyond those previously tabled, and an agreement would have included the numerous non-monetary provisions recently bargained.
VIRL and BCGEU had been bargaining the expired BCGEU Collective Agreement (January 1, 2016 – December 31, 2020) since September, 2021. The negotiations reached an impasse over wages and term, despite substantive agreement on numerous non-monetary components. On February 22, BCGEU notified VIRL that its members had voted in favour of a strike mandate. On February 25, BCGEU filed 72-hour strike notice. On March 01, VIRL offered a new proposal through the assigned Labour Relations Board mediator.
More information, including impacts to our ability to deliver critical library service, will be provided at virl.bc.ca/updates. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this labour dispute may cause.
########
Media Contact
David Carson, Director, Corporate Communications
250.327.3651
dcarson@virl.bc.ca
