Hello Fellow BCGEU Members,

Stand in Solidarity for Fairness and Equality

All BCGEU members are encouraged to show support for those facing financial hardships due to the strike. Signing this petition is a powerful way to demonstrate respect and true solidarity with those who stood on the picket lines for the benefit of everyone. Their sacrifice made this agreement possible. PLEASE ADD YOUR SIGNATURE!

When we voted to strike, every “YES” accepted not only the promise of better conditions but also the possibility of hardship. Yet, only some members bore the full financial strain, so that all of us could eventually share in the benefits of the new agreement.

This petition demands equality and fairness for those who shouldered the heaviest financial burden. For many, it will take up to and over 1 year to recover lost wages before truly benefiting from the 3% pay increase. This disparity cannot be ignored.

Our Union is meant to stand for solidarity and equality.

The union leadership must act now to remedy this imbalance and restore trust and unity among members. The BCGEU Executive Committee has been asked to take action but has responded that no further steps will be taken to address this issue. The leadership claims strike participation is inherently variable and unpredictable. But were the financial outcomes truly unforeseeable?

 Deliberate Decisions Led to Unequal Consequences

A well-prepared union could have anticipated different strike scenarios—short, medium, or long—and implemented strategies such as a rolling strike model or additional financial support to distribute the impact more fairly across members. By initially striking with 4,000 members off work for nearly four weeks before including others, the union knowingly created a situation where some members faced a heavier and prolonged financial burden, including losses affecting pension and CPP contributions.

The Union’s deliberate choice to gradually close offices over several weeks, instead of initiating a full strike immediately, carried clear consequences for striking members. At this point, the union should have been actively addressing the growing wage loss disparity instead of accepting it as unavoidable or incidental.

 We urge BCGEU leadership to consider the following actions:

1. Create a dedicated fund or system to provide financial assistance to long-term strikers, helping them recover lost wages faster. This could include options such as reducing union dues for members who have accumulated significant debt due to strike action assigned by the Union. 
2. Initiate transparent discussions with all members to foster an understanding of decisions made during the strike and the resultant inequalities. 
3. Develop future strike protocols that provide equitable support and mitigate financial imbalances among striking members.

Please Sign This Petition to Demand Accountability and Fairness from the BCGEU

Signing this petition demonstrates respect and true solidarity with those who stood on the picket lines for the benefit of everyone. Their sacrifice made this agreement possible. 

Stand with them now—sign the petition for fairness and accountability.