Registration - Organization

BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) / Paul Finch, President

Registration Information

Organization name: BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU)
Previous Organization names
Senior Officer Name: Paul Finch, President
Senior Officer Change History
Initial registration start date: 2017-11-06
Registration status: Active
Projected end date: No date provided
Registration number: 10473-463

Associated Lobbying Activity Reports

Total number of Lobbying Activity Reports: 115

Lobbying Activity Reports - last 6 months: 8

Version 17 of 37 (2021-09-01 to 2021-11-01)

Registration versions:

Version 17 of 37 (2021-09-01 to 2021-11-01)

Lobbying Information

Subject Matter of the Lobbying Activities

Details Regarding the Identified Subject Matter

Will any of the lobbyists listed within this registration arrange a meeting between a public office holder and any other individual for the purpose of attempting to influence any of the matters listed below:

Specific Topics of Lobbying Communications	Intended Outcomes	Associated Subject Matters
Accelerated transition of all currently licensed childcare programs to a provincially funded support model based on the prototype childcare sites.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Children and Families
Addressing a number of issues created by the ministry's recent announcement of a new Youth Employment Program in BC Parks -- specifically, the hiring of new, temporary staff when when there are auxiliaries that are eligible for recall to perform the same work.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Labour/Labour Relations
Addressing COVID‐related challenges faced by labour organizers and workers. Requesting that the province immediately implement card check unionization and that the province immediately introduce electronic voting in representation votes as an alternative to mail‐in ballots.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Labour/Labour Relations
Advocating for the expansion of home support services, improved standards of care in residential care facilities, better occupational health and safety for workers, and strengthened mental health and addictions services. Advocating for the public provision of health services.	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly Introduction, amendment, passage or defeat of any Bill or resolution in or before the Legislative Assembly	Health
Advocating for various improvements in government procurement practices, including successorship in contracts, bringing outsourced work back in house, and public ownership of infrastructure.	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Government Procurement
Amendment to the Police Act to clarify the discipline/termination process for Special Provincial Constables where there is a collective agreement in place.	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Justice and Law Enforcement, Labour/Labour Relations
BC Wildfire Service: potential for off-season employment for wildfire fighters in ministry mandated wildfire risk reduction, forest health and silviculture work, and keeping this critical work in direct government as opposed to devolving it to contract agencies.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Forestry, Labour/Labour Relations
Building on the Early Childhood Educator Wage Enhancement program from 2019, the government should implement a provincial wage grid and ensure a comprehensive package that includes benefits and pension	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Children and Families, Labour/Labour Relations
Call for regulation of counselling therapists.	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Health, Mental Health and Addictions
Childcare capital spending should be focused on public providers, and efforts should be made to remove funding barriers for First Nations communities and other public/non-profit providers	Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Children and Families
COVID-19 and Childcare: The BCGEU is calling on the government to bring back Temporary Emergency Funding (TEF) to support childcare programs.	Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	COVID-19, Children and Families
Developing a joint strategy moving forward to ensure not only that critical lessons from the Levan Francis case are learned but that those lessons—and related remedies—are clearly and effectively communicated to frontline members. The ultimate goal of the strategy would be that all BCGEU members in ACD understand exactly what concrete actions are being taken to make their workplace safer and more inclusive and to make sure that what happened to Mr. Francis cannot happen again.	Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Human Rights, Justice and Law Enforcement, Labour/Labour Relations
Ensuring a seat at any appropriate tables where consultation regarding the BC Provincial Government Child Care Strategy stakeholders is happening.	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Children and Families, Education, Labour/Labour Relations
Expanded childcare as Part of BC’s Economic Recovery.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	COVID-19, Children and Families, Economic Development and Trade
Expanding Section 135 of the Workers’ Compensation Act to cover more frontline workers— specifically those in mental health and addictions and community social services.	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Health, Labour/Labour Relations, Mental Health and Addictions
Expressing opposition to proposals by BC Liberal Party to: -Permanently allow liquor primary locations to deliver alcohol; -Allow restaurants and bars to purchase liquor at wholesale prices from any liquor store.	Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity Decision by the Executive Council or a member of the Executive Council to have the private sector instead of the Crown provide goods or services to the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Liquor Control/Alcohol
Governance improvements in Workers Compensation, including increased representation for workers.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Health, Labour/Labour Relations
Government plans for "return to work" for the public service in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	COVID-19, Labour/Labour Relations
Impacts of restructuring/new ministry mandate	Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Labour/Labour Relations
Implementing Together BC, and expanding the strategy to build on pandemic-response measures such as making increases to income assistance and supports for people with disabilities permanent.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Poverty
In response to a violent attack at Vancouver Courthouse where one litigant attacked another with a weapon that had been brought into the court house, the BCGEU is renewing its call for enhanced security measures at courthouses to protect the physical & psychological safety of members, including mandatory screening of all court users and installation of security gates.	Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity Decision by the Executive Council or a member of the Executive Council to have the private sector instead of the Crown provide goods or services to the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Justice and Law Enforcement, Labour/Labour Relations
Making non-medical masks mandatory in all common areas of public service work sites province-wide with preference for three-layer masks as recommended in recent Health Canada’s updated guidance.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	COVID-19, Health, Labour/Labour Relations
OHS concerns of Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement (CVSE) officers & inspectors; Enforcement of highway maintenance standards; Long-term impact of contracting out on auxiliary workforce; Inclusion of Highway Maintenance Workers (HMWs) in Public Sector Pension Plan (PSPP)	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Infrastructure, Labour/Labour Relations, Privatization and Outsourcing, Transportation
Opposition to proposals from the employer-driven Equal Work Equal Pay (EWEP) Coalition.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Labour/Labour Relations
Promoting the training, recruitment and retention of childcare and social services workers. Seeking improvements in services for children, youth and families, including establishing a universal childcare system, ensuring Indigenous families receive an equal level and quality of care, and expanding programs for youth transitioning out of care.	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly	Children and Families
Promoting the training, recruitment and retention of workers in the justice system. Advocating for improved access to the justice system, including by expanding legal aid, First Nations legal services, and family justice centres. Seeking changes that will reduce prison violence, including reduced staff-to-inmate ratios.	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly	Justice and Law Enforcement
Providing advanced notice of a letter from BCGEU president being sent to Minister Heyman related to member issues regarding the Youth Employment Program in BC Parks & establishing BCGEU's intention to follow up on the letter within 2-3 weeks for a response from the Minister.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Environment
Requesting a role for the BCGEU in the ministry’s work to implement the 26 recommendations in the Ombudsperson’s recent report: “Alone: The prolonged and Repeated Isolation of Youth in Custody.” Ensuring the perspective of frontline workers in the system is considered as early as possible in the ministry’s efforts to implement the report’s recommendations.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Children and Families, Justice and Law Enforcement, Labour/Labour Relations
Seeking better communication with unions when the government takes over hotels or creates new supportive housing sites.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Housing, Labour/Labour Relations, Mental Health and Addictions, Poverty
Seeking changes to enhance BC Liquor Stores and to end the sale of grocery store wine licenses.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation	Liquor Control/Alcohol
Seeking improvements in compliance and enforcement programs across government and changes to environmental and natural resource laws that strengthen public oversight. Advocating for more funding and to protect BC Parks from commercialization/ privatization. Advocating for actions to address climate change, including just transition measures for affected workers and communities.	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly	Environment
Seeking improvements to postsecondary education, including funding increases and changes to trades training in BC.	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly	Advanced Education
Seeking improvements to the Labour Code, Workers' Compensation Act, Worksafe BC and employment standards, including stronger protections for workers, strengthened health and safety regulations, and strategies to address precarious work.	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly Introduction, amendment, passage or defeat of any Bill or resolution in or before the Legislative Assembly Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation	Labour/Labour Relations
Seeking information regarding potential restructuring of natural resources operations within government.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Labour/Labour Relations
Seeking support for strategies to address the housing affordability crisis in BC, including tax changes, stronger protection for renters and investment in new affordable public housing.	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly Introduction, amendment, passage or defeat of any Bill or resolution in or before the Legislative Assembly	Housing
Sending copies of BCGEU letters regarding temporary pandemic pay for members.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	COVID-19, Labour/Labour Relations
Support for members in PSE sector during pandemic response and recovery. Underfunding of post-secondary operating budgets.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Advanced Education, COVID-19, Labour/Labour Relations
Temporary pandemic pay for childcare workers	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	COVID-19, Children and Families, Labour/Labour Relations
Temporary pandemic pay for LDB workers	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	COVID-19, Labour/Labour Relations, Liquor Control/Alcohol
Temporary pandemic pay for workers n the community social services sector.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	COVID-19, Children and Families, Finances and Budgets, Labour/Labour Relations
The BCGEU requests that the ministry include our union in discussions related to reconciliation measures and strategies for K-12 education	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Education, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
The implementation of a broad policy across the Vancouver Coastal Health region, for direct employees and for employees of employers that have contracts with VCH, that, excepting where it is not possible for essential health services, workers not be required report to their worksite and be allowed to work from home. Offices that don’t need to be open should be closed. The requirement of mask wearing in all common areas of all worksites under the Vancouver CoastalAuthority’s authority, preferably with the requirement of a minimum of three-layer mask as recommended by Health Canada in recent updates.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	COVID-19, Health, Labour/Labour Relations
The importance of addressing issues facing women in the COVID-19 economic recovery strategy; ensuring women’s voices are at the table in all economic recovery plans; recognizing the economic contributions of women	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	COVID-19, Children and Families, Employment and Training, Finances and Budgets, Poverty
The ministry (PSSG) is amending a regulation in the Police Act to address an issue created by a BC Court of Appeal decision issued in June in the Casavant case. The decision created a lack of clarity about the appropriate disciplinary process for employees with special provincial constable designations. The BCGEU had previously proposed language to clarify that the proper process was grievance arbitration as opposed to proceeding under the Police Act regulations. BCGEU was seeking an amendment to the regulation that established the grievance arbitration process outlined in the collective agreement as the appropriate process for discipline related to SPC designations.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation	Justice and Law Enforcement, Labour/Labour Relations
The ministry should actively support the union’s participation in any ministry-led discussions or working groups related to pandemic response measures that impact workers in K-12 education.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	COVID-19, Education
The ministry should actively support the union’s participation in any ministry-led discussions or working groups related to restructuring the ministry’s service areas.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Children and Families, Labour/Labour Relations
The ministry should include our union in discussions related to reconciliation, particularly with respect to strategies for child welfare.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Children and Families, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
The ministry should include our union in discussions related to the planning and implementation of childcare initiatives.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Children and Families, Education, Labour/Labour Relations
The process for first certification of unions should be made fairer for workers/	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation	Labour/Labour Relations
The vital role of religious, cultural, and needs-based independent schools as a supplement to a robust public K- 12 education system.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Education
The Workers Compensation Act should be reviewed and amended to alter provisions that harm injured workers.	Development of any legislative proposal by the government of British Columbia, a Provincial entity or a member of the Legislative Assembly Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Health, Labour/Labour Relations
Union representation and jurisdictional issues in the context of sectoral reorganizations.	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity	Labour/Labour Relations
Vaccine priority for frontline workers	Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation	COVID-19, Health, Labour/Labour Relations

BC Ministries/Provincial Entities

Advanced Education and Skills Training
Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
Attorney General and Minister responsible for Housing
Children and Family Development
Education
Environment and Climate Change Strategy
Finance
Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development
Fraser Health Authority
Health
Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation
Labour
Member(s) of the BC Legislative Assembly
Mental Health and Addictions
Minister of State for Child Care
Minister of State for Infrastructure
Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resource Operations
Municipal Affairs
Office of the Premier
Parliamentary Secretary for Environment
Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity
Public Safety and Solicitor General
Social Development and Poverty Reduction
Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
Transportation and Infrastructure
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority

Organization Details

Senior Officer Name and Position during the Period of this Registration

Stephanie Smith, President

Organization Contact Information

BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU)

Address:
4911 Canada Way
Burnaby, BC V5G 3W3
Canada

Telephone number: 604-291-9611

Description of Activities

The BCGEU is one of the largest and most diverse labour unions in British Columbia. We represent over 80,000 members in 550 bargaining units in the private sector and public services.

Gifts or benefits provided by the organization

Gifts or Benefits Provided to Public Officer Holders
Name	Gift or Benefit Description	Circumstance	Date Promised	Value Promised	Date Given	Value Given
No Records

Contributors to the Lobbying Activity

No person or organization contributed over $1000CDN, within the preceding 12 months, toward the lobbying activity on behalf of the organization that has a direct interest in the outcome of the lobbying activity.

Government Funding in the Last 12 Months

No government funding was requested or received within the preceding 12 months.

Coalition Members Information

BC Health Coalition
- 302-3102 Main Street
  Vancouver, BC V5T 3G7
  Canada
BC Poverty Reduction Coalition
- 409 - 312 Main Street,
  Vancouver, BC V6A 2T2
  Canada

Affiliates with a Direct Interest in the Outcome

BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) does not have any affiliates that could have a direct interest in the outcome of the lobbying activities

Other Persons or Organizations with Direct Interests

The activities of BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) are not controlled or directed by another person or organization with a direct interest in the outcome of this undertaking.

Lobbyists Details

Lobbyists Employed by this Organization

Lobbyist

Contributions

Frank Anderson
Subscribes to a Code of Conduct: No
Former Public Office Holder in BC: No