Offer extended to BCGEU, awaiting mediator response
March 3, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 03, 2022 – Early on Tuesday, March 1, Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) offered a new proposal to British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) Local 702 via the assigned Labour Relations Board mediator. VIRL is awaiting an update from the mediator.
VIRL and BCGEU have 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. On Tuesday, February 22, BCGEU notified VIRL that its members had voted 95% in favour of a strike mandate. On the afternoon of Friday, February 25, BCGEU served 72- hour strike notice.
On Monday, February 28, 2022, VIRL’s Executive Committee provided guidance to management on a renewed bargaining mandate. The assigned Labour Relations Board mediator was re-engaged soon thereafter.
VIRL remains committed to working with BCGEU on a solution to this impasse and is hopeful its members will accept the new offer, thereby avoiding a strike.
VIRL understands that job action will commence this morning, with BCGEU members wearing buttons. Library services are not expected to be impacted today. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
The latest updates will be shared at virl.bc.ca/updates.
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Media Contact
David Carson, Director, Corporate Communications
250.327.3651
dcarson@virl.bc.ca
