ABLE BC Wage Survey Report, BCHF Victoria Golf Tournament, WORTH Mentorship, and More! -----------------------------------------------
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Liquor Industry Update:
August 8, 2024
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Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,
Here's the latest news for the private liquor industry:
- Renewal Season is Here!
- ABLE BC's 2024 Wage Survey Report
- Reminder: LDB Shipment Verification Steps
- Swing for a Cause: Join the BCHF Victoria Golf Tournament
- WORTH Association Mentorship Program
What you'll find in every newsletter:
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Renewal Season is Here!
ABLE BC memberships expire on August 31, 2024. Members can renew by logging into the Member Portal and following the renewal instructions posted on the dashboard.
If you have questions about your renewal, don't know how to log into the Member Portal, or would like to discuss a payment plan, please contact David Lough, Manager of Membership Services, at david@ablebc.ca or 604-688-5560 ex. 3.
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ABLE BC's 2024 Wage Survey Report
We surveyed our members throughout July to better understand the impact of the June 1, 2024 minimum wage increase, current standards for starting wages, and what our members include in employee benefits packages.
We collected responses from nearly 10% of all ABLE BC members, including cannabis retailers, liquor retailers, and liquor primary operators.
Unsurprisingly, rising labour costs are putting significant strain on cannabis and liquor businesses and negatively impacting profitability. Owners and managers struggle to afford competitive wages and benefits, despite wanting to offer their employees more.
Complete survey results are available to members for free in the ABLE BC Member Portal.
Non-members can purchase complete results for $25 in the ABLE BC online store.
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BC’s Hub for Workplace Mental Health
The Canadian Mental Health Association has created a resource hub for employers and employees dealing with mental health challenges at work.
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Cannabis Industry Update Newsletter
Sign up for our Cannabis Industry Update Newsletter to learn more about our advocacy for cannabis retailers. Click here to read past cannabis newsletters.
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ABLE BC
Member Portal
The Member Portal is your hub for all resources and benefits available to ABLE BC members. Contact david@ablebc.ca if you need help logging in.
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Reminder: LDB Shipment Verification Steps
Recently, we have received questions from members about the shipment verification process for BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) deliveries. As a reminder, here are the steps to properly verify an LDB shipment:
- Complete a full box count using the master packing list. Note: delivery drivers do know they need to wait for you to complete this count. If your driver is not willing to wait, please contact the Wholesale Customer Centre at wholesalehelp@bcldb.com.
- Record any overages/shorts on the Bill of Lading.
- Complete a detailed receipt of the shipment using the container packing list.
For more details, please refer to the Shipment Documents & Verification Steps section of the Wholesale Customer Centre Order Handbook.
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Swing for a Cause: Join the BCHF Victoria Golf Tournament
Have you registered yet? With less than a month to go, you'll want to get your tickets before they are gone. There are only a few spots left, so don’t delay signing up your golf team!
Get ready for a fantastic day of golf and give back at this year's BCHF Victoria Golf Tournament, taking place in the beautiful Olympic View Golf Club. This event promises an unforgettable experience with local food and beverage vendors, contests, and the chance to network with industry professionals. It's the perfect opportunity to reward your team members, treat your clients, or simply enjoy a great day of golf and fundraising.
Event Details:
- Date: Wednesday, August 21, 2024
- Location: Olympic View Golf Club, 643 Latoria Rd., Victoria
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WORTH Association Mentorship Program
The WORTH Association’s Mentorship Program is now accepting applications for mentors and mentees for Fall 2024!
With over 140 successful matches, this program offers aspiring leaders a unique opportunity to connect with experienced mentors, gain industry insights, and develop their leadership skills.
Interested in becoming a mentor or mentee? Learn more about how this 3-month program can support your career ambitions and help you build your network through the link below.
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Ask an Expert:
Understanding the Unionization Process
Introducing a new Liquor Industry Update section, Ask an Expert, where ABLE Experts provide our readers with advice, insight, and guidance on liquor industry issues.
Today, Ryan Anderson, Partner at Mathews Dinsdale and employment law expert, brings you the first article in a series on unionization. Ryan is an ABLE Expert and trusted advisor to the ABLE BC team for labour and employment law questions. He is your resource for understanding the unionization process and how employers should prepare to respond effectively.
Stay tuned for more from Ryan, and other ABLE Experts, in the coming weeks.
Signing Union Cards – Can You Educate Your Employees?
When a Union wants to represent a group of employees, for example at a liquor store, the Union organizers must persuade at least 55% of employees to sign physical or electronic union cards.
The cards must include the following statement: In applying for a membership I understand that the union intends to apply to be certified as my exclusive bargaining agent and to represent me in collective bargaining.
If 55% or more employees sign a union card, the entire group of employees will become unionized, without any subsequent vote.
In my experience, employees are often confused by or misunderstand the statement on union cards about applying for membership – they do not always realize that signing a card (or not signing a card) could be their only opportunity to have a say in the matter. They aren’t usually aware there will be no subsequent vote on the question of unionization.
Therefore, it is very important that an employer’s response strategy accurately informs employees about the unionization process and directs them to resources with additional information about union cards and unionization more generally.
Employers are often unaware when union organization is happening. If an employer learns that employees have been asked to sign union cards, they must take this important opportunity to ensure employees understand the significance of signing a card.
It is always lawful to provide accurate information to employees about the union organizing process, but this communication should be carefully coordinated with legal counsel and/or expert labour relations advice.
If your employees have begun the unionization process, reach out to Ryan Anderson to learn how he can help guide your response strategy. Contact Ryan at 604-638-2042 or randerson@mathewsdinsdale.com.
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Cannabis Corner:
ABLE BC & the BC Cannabis Secretariat
Earlier this summer, the BC Cannabis Secretariat invited ABLE BC and other industry associations to a meeting with the BC LDB and LCRB to discuss several cannabis issues.
Bo Chen (Head of Cannabis Memberships), Jeff Guignard (Executive Director), and Feven Berhane (Cannabis Committee Chair) represented ABLE BC’s cannabis retail members needs, pushing for several policy priorities:
- Reduce the LDB’s 15% markup on Direct Delivery;
- Allow retailers and licensed producers to pay with credit card;
- Reduce business licensing feed by sharing cannabis excise tax revenue between the province and municipalities;
- Create a Cannabis Special Event Permit to allow for cannabis consumption and sale at events;
- Establish a minimum provincial distance criteria between retailers, and;
- Allow retail white-label products.
This productive and collaborative meeting set the foundation for success on several long-standing issues. We look forward to bringing our members good news and progress updates in the coming months.
Please contact Bo at bo@ablebc.ca if you would like to discuss ABLE BC’s cannabis policy priorities in more detail.
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Jeff Guignard and Feven Berhane at the LDB Richmond Distribution Centre
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go2HR on Tap:
Understanding the Pay Transparency Act
go2HR is a regular contributor to the ABLE BC Liquor Industry Update newsletter, providing tips and guidance on current HR trends, new legislation, employee recruitment and retention, and more. To read the latest instalment, sign in to the member portal or sign up for the newsletter.
Everyone deserves to be paid fairly, regardless of gender. In May 2023, BC took the first step towards pay equity by implementing the Pay Transparency Act. Is your business compliant?
Here are some key requirements that you need to know:
- Pay secrecy: Under BC’s Pay Transparency Act, as of November 1, 2023, all provincially regulated employers must include the expected pay or pay range in public job postings.
- Pay history: Employers cannot ask job applicants what other employers have paid them.
- Employer reprisal: Employers cannot punish employees who ask about their pay or reveal their pay to other employees or job applicants.
- Pay transparency reporting: Employers with 50 or more employees must post pay transparency reports by November 1 each year through a phased approach (2024-2026). There are no reporting requirements for employers with less than 50 employees.
What can you do now? Take time to review your existing policies and procedures, your employee handbooks, and recruitment practices. Ensure you include pay information in your job postings. If you currently use a standard set of interview questions, remove any questions related to asking job applicants about their pay history.
Learn more by reading go2HR’s Pay Transparency Act FAQ.
Do you have any questions about the Pay Transparency Act or need HR help? Connect with the go2HR team for a free 1:1 consultation here.
go2HR, the HR and health and safety association for the BC Tourism and Hospitality Industry, has a wealth of resources to support you. We invite you to connect with us to learn more about how you can support your employees with health and safety at safety@go2HR.ca.
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Out and About with ABLE BC
As you know, ABLE BC memberships expire at the end of this month. Thank you to everyone who has already renewed! Your continued support ensures we can continue fighting for the needs of our members and the private liquor industry.
We understand that many of our members are struggling with profitability right now. We know the pressures your businesses are facing. If the cost of membership is a barrier, we encourage you to reach out to discuss a payment plan. Our team is committed to serving our members and making membership accessible and affordable.
As the only association fighting for BC’s private liquor stores (LRSs), Liquor Primaries, and private cannabis stores (CRSs), membership support is vital to our advocacy efforts. Put simply, ABLE BC does not exist without your membership dues.
You can view and pay your renewal invoice by logging in to the Member Portal. If you haven't logged in recently and aren't sure how, don't hesitate to reach out to our Manager of Membership Services, David Lough, at david@ablebc.ca or 604-688-5560 ex 3 for help!
In case you missed it, ABLE BC’s Executive Director, Jeff Guignard, appeared in the following media recently:
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Bo Chen, Jeff Ring (LDB Cannabis), Feven Berhane (KushKlub), Jeff Guignard, Gayle Corah (LDB Cannabis), Tyson Turner (LDB Cannabis)
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Save the Date: Upcoming Events and Webinars
Check out these upcoming events:
- BCHF Victoria Golf Tournament, Victoria, August 21
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Canna Golf Classic, Vancouver, August 20-21
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StratCann Kootenay Cannabis Farm Tour, Nelson, August 31
- IVSA Tasting Salon, Victoria, September 10
- IVSA Tasting Salon, Kelowna, September 17
- IVSA Tasting Salon, Kamloops, September 18
- IVSA Tasting Salon, Vancouver, October 8
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Copyright © 2024
BC's Alliance of Beverage Licensees (ABLE BC)
200 - 948 Howe Street, Vancouver, V6Z 1N9 Canada
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