BC Federation of Labour

UNION GLOSSARY Termination without cause Termination without cause is when your employer lets you go for non-disciplinary reasons. You're usually entitled to advance notice or severance pay, and your union can review if it was fair or allowed under your contract. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Termination without cause

Termination without cause is when your employer lets you go for non-disciplinary reasons. You're usually entitled to advance notice or severance pay, and your union can review if it was fair or allowed under your contract.

#BCLab #CanLab

UNION GLOSSARY Termination for cause Termination for cause is when an employer fires you without notice or severance, usually for serious misconduct. The standard is high-and your union can help challenge it. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Termination for cause

Termination for cause is when an employer fires you without notice or severance, usually for serious misconduct. The standard is high-and your union can help challenge it.

#BCLab #CanLab

Big news: the BC Human Rights Tribunal has "affirmed that immunodeficiency is a physical disability," with employers having a duty to address barriers and find solutions. #BCLab

Socialism is what they called public power.

Socialism is what they called social security. 
 
Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.
 
Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.

—Harry Truman, 1952

UNION GLOSSARY Bargaining committee Your bargaining committee is the group of union members-often with support from union staff-who negotiate your collective agreement with the employer. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Bargaining committee

Your bargaining committee is the group of union members—often with support from union staff—who negotiate your collective agreement with the employer.

#BCLab #CanLab

"Al is reshaping workplaces faster than the law can respond to it. Unions are doing what we can at the bargaining table, but we need a legislative floor for all workers." THE TYEE, JULY 21, 2025 SUSANNE SKIDMORE PRESIDENT BCFED

Screenshot of The Tyee. Headline: "Is BC Doing Enough to Protect Workers from Al?" Subhead: "The government is consulting on recommended changes. Critics say faster action is needed." Byline: Isaac Phan Nay

A really solid piece from @isaacphannay.bsky.social in @thetyee.ca today! As @susibcfed.bsky.social warns, "The govt needs to act on this quickly to make sure that we’re protecting workers and jobs. It really won’t take long before this impacts every level of our economy." thetyee.ca/News/2025/07...

UNION GLOSSARY Right of recall The right of recall is a provision in some collective agreements that comes into effect if you're laid off. It means that if your employer brings the work back during a specified period, they must offer you your job back—or a similar one. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Right of recall

The right of recall is a provision in some collective agreements that comes into effect if you're laid off. It means that if your employer brings the work back during a specified period, they must offer you your job back—or a similar one.

#BCLab #CanLab

UNION GLOSSARY Job classification A job classification is how a position is defined in the collective agreement— often including duties, responsibilities, and pay scale. Classifications help determine your wages and working conditions. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Job classification

A job classification is how a position is defined in the collective agreement— often including duties, responsibilities, and pay scale. Classifications help determine your wages and working conditions.

#BCLab #CanLab

UNION GLOSSARY Severance pay Severance pay is compensation you may receive when your job ends. The amount you receive may depend on your contract, the law, or how long you've worked. For non-union workers with at least 3 months of consecutive service, it can range from one to eight weeks pay. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Severance pay

Severance pay is compensation you get when your job ends. The amount may depend on your contract, the law, or how long you've worked. For non-union workers with at least 3 months of consecutive service, it can range from 1 to 8 weeks pay.

#BCLab #CanLab

Three people stand by Ginger Goodwin's headstone. Lest We Forget. Ginger Goodwin Shot July 27th 1918. A Workers Friend.

Ginger Goodwin's headstone at the Cumberland Cemetery has received a facelift. Unauthorized alterations and vandalism have been corrected, as has the date of Goodwin's death. It will be another 6-8 months before the cleaning process is complete.
We expect the sandstone will look like new again. 1/2

And here's the livestream: www.instagram.com/p/DMQkHBtv7hS/

We’ve got an announcement—we’re on TikTok! 🎉

Want more videos on unique public interest Canadian journalism? Give us a follow and stay up to date on our latest stories. ⬇️

www.tiktok.com/@theijf.org

UNION GLOSSARY Layoff A layoff is when your employer suspends your employment, often due to lack of work or reorganization. In unionized workplaces, your collective agreement may limit when and how layoffs happen, and your benefits and entitlements are still protected during the layoff period. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Layoff

A layoff is when your employer suspends your employment, often due to lack of work or reorganization. In unionized workplaces, your collective agreement may limit when and how layoffs happen, and give added protections.

#BCLab #CanLab

Injured workers should be first in line for WCB “surplus”: BCFED | bcfed.ca Improving benefits for injured workers and strengthening workplace safety should be the Workers’ Compensation Board’s top priority in using its “surplus,” BCFED President Sussanne Skidmore said today....

We're calling on the WCB's Board of Directors to reverse the latest giveaway. “If the fund really has more than the WCB needs to meet its commitments, they should invest that in making workers safer and treating injured workers more fairly.” — Sussanne Skidmore

bcfed.ca/news/release...

Employers' premiums have been frozen since 2018. They're paying less than they did a decade ago.

Someone please explain how we can’t afford presumption on psychological injuries, we can’t afford to restore pensions, and we can’t afford to put more into workplace inspections and enforcement — but we CAN afford to subsidize employer premiums.

THREE.

BILLION.

DOLLARS.

And where does that money come from? The cuts John Rustad's government made to benefits for injured workers.

Injured workers should be first in line for WCB “surplus”: BCFED | bcfed.ca Improving benefits for injured workers and strengthening workplace safety should be the Workers’ Compensation Board’s top priority in using its “surplus,” BCFED President Sussanne Skidmore said today....

Do you know how much money the Workers' Compensation Board (aka WorkSafeBC) has spent subsidizing employer premiums in the past six years? #BCLab #BCPoli

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UNION GLOSSARY Termination Termination is when your employer ends your employment. It can be with or without cause, depending on the situation. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Termination

Termination is when your employer ends your employment. It can be with or without cause, depending on the situation.

#BCLab #CanLab

UNION GLOSSARY Replacement worker A replacement worker (often called a "scab") is someone your employer brings in to do the work of striking or locked-out employees. This is generally illegal under both BC and Canadian law, because it unfairly removes workers' bargaining power. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Replacement worker

A replacement worker (or "scab") is someone your employer brings in to do the work of striking or locked-out employees. This is generally illegal under both BC and Canadian law, as it unfairly removes workers' bargaining power.

#BCLab #CanLab

UNION GLOSSARY Probationary period In BC, the probationary period is the first 90 days of your job. During that period, your employer can fire you without notice or severance pay, unless your contract sets a shorter period. If you're in a union, your collective agreement may offer more protection and a shorter period. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Probationary period

This is the first 90 days of your job when your employer can fire you without notice or severance pay, unless your contract sets a shorter period. In a union, your collective agreement may offer more protection and a shorter period.

#BCLab #CanLab

UNION GLOSSARY Successor rights Successor rights protect your union and collective agreement if your workplace is sold or transferred, or in some cases if the contractor employing you changes. These rights ensure your union continues to represent you under the new employer. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Successor rights

Successor rights protect your union & collective agreement if your workplace is sold or transferred, or in some cases if the contractor employing you changes. They ensure your union continues to represent you under the new employer.

#BCLab #CanLab

UNION GLOSSARY Union local A union local is a branch of a larger union, often representing workers in a particular region, employer or industry. Locals can vary in size from a handful of members to several thousand. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Union local

A union local is a branch of a larger union, often representing workers in a particular region, employer or industry. Locals can vary in size from a handful of members to several thousand.

#BCLab #CanLab

UNION GLOSSARY Bargaining unit A bargaining unit is the specific group of workers that a union is certified to represent, typically people with similar jobs, working conditions or interests within a workplace. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Bargaining unit

A bargaining unit is the specific group of workers that a union is certified to represent, typically people with similar jobs, working conditions or interests within a workplace.

#BCLab #CanLab

UNION GLOSSARY Unfair labour practice An unfair labour practice is when an employer or union breaks labour law, such as by intimidating workers, refusing to bargain or interfering with union activities. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Unfair labour practice

An unfair labour practice is when an employer or union breaks labour law, such as by intimidating workers, refusing to bargain or interfering with union activities.

#BCLab #CanLab

UNION GLOSSARY Memorandum of Agreement A Memorandum of Agreement is a document that outlines the details of a tentative deal reached at the bargaining table. It only becomes a collective agreement if members vote to ratify it. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Memorandum of Agreement

A Memorandum of Agreement is a document that outlines the details of a tentative deal reached at the bargaining table. It only becomes a collective agreement if members vote to ratify it.

#BCLab #CanLab

UNION GLOSSARY Bargaining in good faith Bargaining in good faith is a legal requirement that unions and employers make honest efforts to reach an agreement, such as sharing information, meeting regularly and genuinely trying to resolve issues. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Bargaining in good faith

Bargaining in good faith is a legal requirement that unions and employers make honest efforts to reach an agreement, such as sharing information, meeting regularly and genuinely trying to resolve issues.

#BCLab #CanLab

Congratulations!!

UNION GLOSSARY Impasse An impasse is when bargaining stalls, and the union and employer can't reach an agreement after discussing all the issues on the table. A strike or lockout can usually only happen once talks have reached impasse. BCFED

Today's #UnionGlossary term: Impasse

An impasse is when bargaining stalls, and the union and employer can't reach an agreement after discussing all the issues on the table. A strike or lockout can usually only happen once talks have reached impasse.

#BCLab #CanLab