With strike on the horizon, BCGEU wage counterproposal signals movement away from an agreement
March 7, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 7, 2022 – With picketing slated to commence later this week, the British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) Local 702 has counter offered with wage increases greater than those the union had previously identified it would accept.
BCGEU has communicated its intent to picket VIRL locations on Wednesday, March 9 that will result in disruption of library services.
Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) is disappointed that BCGEU appears to be moving away from the opportunity to achieve an agreement which is in the interest of all parties.
More information, including service impacts, will be provided as it becomes available. For all the latest updates, please visit: https://virl.bc.ca/updates/.
Media Contact
David Carson, Director, Corporate Communications
250.327.3651
dcarson@virl.bc.ca
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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, 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.
VIRL’s latest proposal included two term options, each featuring compensation increases beyond those previously tabled, and numerous non-monetary provisions recently bargained.
