Grey Cup safe as BC Place employees reach agreement

Union, building management avoid disrupting events after strike notice given

Canada’s Grey Cup will go on as planned after the union representing employees at Vancouver’s BC Place – the venue hosting this year’s Canadian Football League championship game – reached a tentative agreement with stadium management.

The 600 B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) Local 1703 members issued a strike notice on Oct. 21, but reached the agreement earlier this week after the two parties returned to the bargaining table. BCGEU members are employed by B.C. Pavilion Corporation, the management company behind BC Place.

The agreement means there is no longer a risk the Nov. 27 football final could be cancelled.

“We’re glad this tentative agreement could be reached without any disruption to operations at BC Place,” said BCGEU president Darryl Walker. “Our members were seeking a fair collective agreement and they got it.”

While details of the agreement have not been released, job security was the key issue in negotiations.

“We are pleased that we have reached a tentative collective agreement satisfactory to both parties,” said BC Place general manager Howard Crosley, “and we look forward to moving ahead together with all of the events planned for BC Place in the future.”

BCGEU also represents food workers at BC Place, but those employees are covered under a separate collective agreement that expired earlier this year, as well. Negotiations with those workers are scheduled to resume in December and will not interrupt the Grey Cup.

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