As soon as you sign your union card with a BCGEU organizer you begin the steps toward unionization and gain some protections under the BC Labour Code laws.

When your worksite wins the union vote you become certified at the Labour Board and gain access to stronger job security language under the BC Labour Code laws.

Now that you are part of a union, you begin the steps in negotiating your first collective agreement. Your survey input will help make the changes you want in your workplace.

When you elect a bargaining committee, they will bring you and your coworkers voices, experiences, and concerns to the negotiation table.

Negotiations between the employer and union bargaining committee are held until a tentative collective agreement is reached.

Once you vote to ratify and accept your collective agreement you have the protection it provides.  This collective agreement is enforced by the union both at the worksite and the Staff Representatives at the area office.

When you encounter a violation of your collective agreement you will work with your steward to file a grievance (complaint). These grievances follow a legally binding process set out by the Collective Agreement. If our team is unable to solve the problem at the workplace level, the union will potentially take this to an arbitrator for binding decision.

The BCGEU Health & Safety professionals will provide training for your safety committee so that your health and safety issues are taken seriously.

BCGEU provides training so that union stewards, joint labour management representatives, and health and safety committee members have the skills to solve any problems that arise in the workplace.

We can make the changes we need by using the full union tool kit.  A safe & respectful worksite is your union at work.