Professionals Making A Difference
The BCGEU and the Legal Services Society are working to find dates to meet with mediator Debbie Cameron. The BCGEU has agreed to mediation on August 18 and 19, 2010. We will advise once the LSS has accepted these or proposed other meeting dates.
The Legal Services Society requested that its bargaining dispute with the BCGEU be moved to mediation. The BCGEU approved this request. The Code requires the mediator report to the associate chair within 20 days of the request. Extensions to the 20-day window may be made by mutual agreement or by ministerial order. No job action can occur before the mediator reports out. After the mediator has reported out, there is a 48-hour window before a strike or lockout can occur. Updates on this matter will be posted as new information comes available.
With the possiblity of a strike noon on Monday, July 26, 2010, it's important for PEA members with the Legal Services Society Lawyers to know their rights when facing a picket line at the workplace. The Collective Agreement gives PEA member the right to refuse to cross a picket line. Also, members respecting a picket line can have their salary reimbursed. Click here for our one page brief.
You may have noticed the Access To Justice logo is no longer in your right sidebar and has been replaced by the CPLS logo.
The Coalition For Public Legal Services (CPLS) is a group that was created as a direct result of the work the PEA did for the Access To Justice campaign, including the Renewing Our Commitment To Legal Aid town hall forum and Justice For All? documentary.
CPLS is a group of justice system stakeholders, advocacy organizations, and active volunteers looking to restore BC's commitment to legal aid. The PEA is a founding member of the coalition and have built the organization's website and brand.
Individual PEA members are more than welcome to join the Coalition as individual members by click on the contact page of the CPLS website, or you may contact the PEA for further information.
Keep up with CPLS by visiting http://www.cplsbc.ca
LSS members are encouraged to read the attached bulletin with information should another union decide to strike during their collective bargaining with the Legal Services Society of BC:
LSS Picket Line Information Bulletin (distributed June 29, 2010)
The Legal Services Society Chapter will be reconstituting its chapter executive and bargaining committee to fill the spots vacated by members laid off in March.
The chapter’s collective agreement expires at the end of September and Labour Relations Officer Frank Greenlay is looking forward to working with a new bargaining committee to prepare to go to the table this fall.
