Vancouver Whitecaps and BC Lions fans can rejoice: there’s labour peace at BC Place Stadium.
Unionized workers from B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) Local 1703 voted in favour of accepting a new contract with BC Pavilion Corp. (PavCo), the Crown corporation that operates the facility. Terms have not been made public. A tentative settlement was reached June 20, and results of the membership vote were announced July 11.
The union told its members that the vote passed with 66% in favour of the new contract. The tally and turnout, however, were not disclosed. The previous three-year deal expired May 31, 2015.
“Work has already begun on the draft collective agreement, and we expect to have a proofing copy to the employer in the next week or two,” said the BCGEU statement to members. “We’ll make sure to notify you when it’s in the employer’s hands.”
Under the previous contract, tradespeople, building and event maintenance workers were paid $29.59 per hour; event housekeepers and hosts were paid $13.99 per hour.
PavCo forecast an $18.9 million deficit for BC Place for the fiscal year ended March 31. It lost almost $20.1 million in 2014-15.
The 2015-expired contract listed 102 union members entitled to free parking. It also included a net zero clause through May 31, 2013, as per the government-wide directive.
Last fall, BCGEU complained to WorkSafeBC because the stadium lacked a violence prevention and mitigation plan, despite beer sales at sporting events and concerts being a major revenue source.
The stadium’s last major strike was in February 2005, when the government intervened to break an impasse that delayed setup for the annual boat show.
Workers voted 89% to strike and even issued 72-hour strike notice in the fall of 2011 when the stadium reopened after its $514 million renovation. Job security and contracting-out were the major issues. A contract was reached without disruption to Whitecaps or Lions games.
