KFA In Solidarity with the BCGEU, PEA, and Unifor

Dear KFA Colleagues,

Today, the KFA and Douglas College Faculty Association (DCFA) walked the line in solidarity with striking public-sector workers across the Lower Mainland.

BCGEU – BC General Employees Union

We walked in solidarity today with striking BCGEU members — the very workers whose 2022 strike enabled the cost-of-living increases and wage gains faculty achieved in our last round of bargaining. Their action unlocked the funding pool that applied across public-sector tables, including ours. The current strike is part of that same fight — for respect, better benefits & LTD protections, and wages that match the value of the work.

KPU is home to BCGEU members—the support staff who help keep our university running, from student services to labs and IT. We stand in solidarity with them and recognize their vital role in our shared campus community.

PEA – Professional Employees Association

We also stand with members of the Professional Employees Association (PEA), including engineers, geoscientists, psychologists, foresters, veterinarians, and other licensed experts on the front lines of BC’s public service. As faculty, we teach in many of these same disciplines — and we know the value of professional expertise. Their call for fair pay and an end to contractor over-reliance resonates strongly in our sector too.

Unifor Local 3000 – Sheraton Guildford Workers

We express our support for hospitality workers at the Sheraton Guildford, just a short drive KPU’s Surrey campus. In the words of President Adrian Burnett: “Our members are scraping by while a wealthy ownership group tries to nickel-and-dime them.” These workers are standing up for fair wages after years of being underpaid — and they’re doing it with strength, courage, and unity.

We encourage all faculty to respect the picket lines that have arisen in our communities. We encourage you to stand in solidarity with Unions across the province as we join together to bargain for our collective rights.

In solidarity,

Mark Diotte

President, Kwantlen Faculty Association

president@yourkfa.ca