NEW BCGEU Strike Info (job action hits BCIT)

[desiRAWR]

So it looks like my super long weekend (snow day friday - and no classes on monday) is turning into a SUPER LONG weekend.

The rotating strike is taking it's turn at BCIT tomorrow (Tuesday) according to the BCGEU website (press release was JUST posted a few seconds ago).

taken from http://www.bcgeu.ca/2634

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


January 10, 2005



BCIT targeted for strike action on Tuesday
BCIT bureaucrats get up to 40 percent wage increases while workers offered zero

Rotating strike action at BC colleges will move to BCIT campuses on Tuesday, the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union announced today.

“The government has left us with no choice but to take job action, after refusing to move off their zero wage mandate,” said BCGEU President George Heyman. “Our members have had no wage increase in 5 of the last 7 years, and only 4.4 percent in the other two, while real incomes have fallen by 7 percent in that time.

“Our decision is guided by a basic principle – we will maximize the impact of job action on government and college administrators, and minimize the impact on students. “We anticipate that students will understand and support our efforts to obtain a fair agreement for our members.”

Heyman pointed to the Campbell Liberal government’s double standard in imposing a zero wage mandate – which apparently doesn’t apply to college administration officials, who have enjoyed double digit wage increases in the last two years.

“BCIT’s Executive Director of Administrative Services received a 40 percent wage increase in the last two years. Four other BCIT administrators received between 20.4 and 32.4 percent raises in that time. It is outrageous for the college to claim there’s no money for their workers, when administrators have received such massive wage increases.

“This simply underscores the double standard that has been adopted by the Campbell Liberal government. While front-line workers bear the full impact of funding cuts, and students are forced to pay massive tuition fee increases, management is being rewarded with huge pay raises.”

BCIT financial statements show that 21 college administrators received wage increases ranging from 5.9 percent to 40 percent in the last two years. Five BCIT administrators reside in the Top Ten list of college administrators’ salary increases, with increases ranging from 20.4 to 40 percent.

The union is seeking a seven per cent pay boost in a new four year agreement, and parity measures to give support staff the same access to benefit provisions that are already enjoyed by college instructors.

The union served 72-hour strike notice at Kwantlen University College, B.C. Institute of Technology and Northern Lights University College on January 4, and served strike notice at Douglas College January 5, after last-ditch attempts to reach an agreement proved futile. On January 7, the union also served strike notice at Northwest Community College.

The BCGEU has committed to providing one working day notice of upcoming job actions at Lower Mainland and northern BC colleges.

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For more information, contact Chris Bradshaw at 604-473-5454