Canada Line employees join BCGEU

Employees working on the new Canada Line have voted overwhelmingly in favour of joining the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union to make their workplace better.

The 173 new BCGEU members cast their ballots for BCGEU in a vote supervised by the Labour Relations Board last week. The results were just announced.

"We're excited to have the Canada Line workers on board and extend a warm welcome to them," says BCGEU president Darryl Walker. "We will be working together to ensure they have a voice at their workplace and to negotiate a first contract with fair wages and benefits.

"Joining a union is a good way to get their relationship with their employer off to a positive start," Walker says.

The new Canada Line is an automated rail-based rapid transit system which will connect Vancouver with central Richmond and the Vancouver Airport.

The new BCGEU members working on the Canada Line-who are employed by ProTrans BC-include line attendants, station attendants, control room operators, administration, and staff in the wayside, electronics and vehicle departments.

BCGEU represents 65,000 workers in the public service, broader public sector and private sector in communities across B.C.