Staff Representative

BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU); Victoria; On-site; CAD 129,000 - 142,000; Full time

Job summary

BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU) is seeking a Staff Representative to support day-to-day operations, assist officers, stewards and members with administrative functions, bargaining and organizing campaigns in a fast-paced environment.

You will ensure compliance with the BCGEU Constitution, policies, collective agreements and relevant legislation while advocating for members and preparing grievances, negotiations, and training activities. Travel is required; valid BC driver's licence is needed.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of union principles and labour movement goals.
• Ability to advise on policies, procedures and collective agreements.
• Strong communication, organizational and reporting skills.
• Experience with organizing campaigns and bargaining processes.
• Proficiency in MS Office and virtual meeting tools.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support for union activities and communicate with members.
• Attend membership meetings, assist in elections and ratification votes.
• Advise on policies, procedures, and labour legislation interpretations.
• Support grievance handling, negotiations, and arbitration prep.
• Develop training materials and lead steward/officer development.
• Assist or lead organizing campaigns and grassroots work.
• Represent the union at local labour councils and conventions.

Skills

Union administration

Grievance handling

Negotiation

Public speaking

Microsoft Office

Adobe Acrobat

Zoom/Teams

Driver's license

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Outlook

Adobe Acrobat

Zoom

Teams

Job description

Reporting to the Director and Associate Director of VAO, the Staff Representative plays a key part in supporting the day-to-day operations of the union, in a fast-paced environment, including assisting union officers, stewards, and members with various administrative functions, collective bargaining, and organizing campaigns. The Staff Representative will play a critical role in ensuring that the BCGEU Constitution, Financial manual, policies and procedures, collective agreements, and legislation are adhered to when engaging with members and external parties while meeting the mandate of the Union.

Key Responsibilities:

• Union Administration & Support
• Attend membership meetings and assist in union elections and ratification votes.
• Advise union membership on policies, procedures, and collective agreements interpretation and labour related legislation (Human Rights, Occupational Health and Safety, Charter of Canada, WorksafeBC, Employment Standards Act, Public Service Act etc).
• Provide administrative support for union activities, ensuring effective communication with members, and speaking at public meetings with confidence.
• Grievance Handling & Negotiation
• Negotiate collective agreements (including election of bargaining committees, drafting bargaining proposals, ratifying tentative agreements and proofing agreements), negotiate essential service levels and handle grievances up to and including expedited arbitration.
• Develop strategies for addressing workplace issues and ensuring fair treatment of union members and cultivate working relationships to deal with difficult conflict between members or with difficult Employers.
• Presenting grievances at Case Conference and Expedited Arbitration. This includes document preparation, grievance investigation, witness preparation, and arguing the grievance at expedited arbitration.
• Training & Development
• Facilitate courses for stewards, local officers and the general membership to ensure proper training and adherence to union guidelines.
• Develop training materials and present on union policies, procedures, and leadership development.
• Assist in or lead organizing campaigns, both internal and external, to grow the union and represent its members effectively.
• Develop grassroots campaign plans to advance the union’s interests, engage members, and recruit activists.
• External Representation
• Represent the union at local labour councils and conventions to foster relationships and advocate for union priorities.
• Maintain strong connections with external allies and stakeholders to support the union’s objectives.
• Experience in, and understanding of the goals and values of, the union movement is essential.
• Proven track record in negotiating collective agreements, grievance handling, and arbitration.
• Must have a solid understanding of organizing principles. Proven experience in union organizing drives.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Tools (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook) and Adobe Acrobat and virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom and Teams.
• Must have a valid British Columbia driver’s license and use of a vehicle for work purposes

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Comprehensive understanding of the goals, values, and principles of the labour movement.
• Strong ability to work with union leadership, members, community activists and employer representatives.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to handle a large volume of correspondence and prepare concise reports and to adapt communication style to a variety of stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage legal matters and prioritize competing deadlines.
• Public speaking ability, with experience presenting to large groups or leading union-related discussions.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with union and community activists.
• Knowledge of organizing principles and campaign strategies.

SALARY RANGE:

Annual: $128,688.86 – $141,688.64

Travel is required; therefore, applicants must hold a valid B.C. Drivers Licence.

The BCGEU supports employment equity. Indigenous workers, workers of color, women, 2SLGBTQI+ workers, and workers with disabilities are encouraged to apply for positions with the BCGEU.