Union deal
BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) reached a tentative agreement with the BC government last week.
The settlement covers about 26,000 BCGEU members working in a range of jobs. The two-year agreement provides for modest wage increases, which are being funded from savings found within existing budgets.
The deal also cancels the sale of the Liquor Distribution Branch warehouses and stops efforts to privatize the branch.
The union’s bargaining committee is recommending that members approve the deal.
“We knew this round of bargaining would be tough and it was,” said BCGEU president Darryl Walker.
BC Finance Minister Mike de Jong called it a significant agreement that shows deals can be reached despite the tough economy.
Lighting program
An expanded program to recycle all lighting products started on Monday, October 1.
LightRecycle, a non-profit program to recycle lighting products in BC, now accepts all lighting products for recycling without charge, including all types of lights—bulbs and tubes—ballasts and lighting fixtures used in residential, institutional, commercial and industrial applications.
In Powell River, consumers can drop off their burnt-out lights at Canadian Tire and Rona Building Centre. There is no collection site in the community for old or broken lighting fixtures, although there are over 80 collection sites across the province.
More information on the program is available online.
.jpg;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)