[LabComm] BCGEU charges employers' association with unfair labour practice over refusal to bargain

[Adams, Carol]

Tuesday, June 24, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Community social services sector

BCGEU charges employers' association with unfair labour practice over
refusal to bargain

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) today charged
the Community Social Services Employers' Association (CSSEA) with an
unfair labour practice for refusing to bargain first collective
agreements covering over 70 employees at five community social services
agencies in Victoria, Kamloops and Kelowna.

"I am angered that CSSEA would abandon these workers by refusing to
commence, continue or conclude bargaining over a first collective
agreement," said George Heyman, BCGEU president.  "This is a violation
of the labour code and an insult to the women and men who provide
services to society's most vulnerable citizens, including children."

Heyman said the union and employer are in the midst of bargaining on
behalf of workers at the Capital Families Association and Esquimalt
Neighbourhood House in Victoria, and Kelowna Child Care Society.  The
union has already served notice to bargain with the Boys & Girls Club of
Greater Victoria and the John Howard Society in Kamloops.  

"Bargaining at the Kelowna Child Care Society is in its final stages.
Agreement has been reached on non-monetary issues and the employer was
supposed to be taking the union's monetary package to the board of
directors for consideration.  Now, CSSEA has yanked its people from the
table.  Without a collective agreement, workers are left vulnerable and
with little protection.  It's appalling and clearly intended to
discourage workers from joining or remaining in a union."

Heyman dismissed CSSEA's position that the union no longer has legal
authority to bargain on behalf of these members in light of Bill 61,
which establishes a bargaining association of all unions in the sector.
The BCGEU has asked the Labour Relations Board (LRB) to declare the
union can continue to bargain for its members until it approves the
articles of association mandated by Bill 61. 

"We are asking the LRB to order CSSEA to return to the bargaining table
and negotiate in good faith so that these workers can achieve the rights
and protections they are entitled to by a collective agreement," Heyman
said.

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Contact:  Carol Adams, Communications, (604) 291-9611

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