Victoria’s Bug Zoo unionized back in 2022 and now they have achieved their first collective agreement, gaining better pay and work conditions for employees.
In this collective agreement, their union, MoveUP achieved a pay increase from the BC minimum wage of $17.40 per hour to $21 per hour.
The union also negotiated for and attained reduced surveillance in employee-only areas, limiting tour shift lengths and the establishment of an Occupational Health and Safety Committee.
Victoria Bug Zoo employees’ roles are to care for over 70 species of animals, all with specific needs and give educational tours to guests of the zoo.
Additionally, workers do maintenance and cleaning work within the facility.
“Even in the most fun and magical workplace, workers need collective bargaining to make our voices heard,” said Liz Cronin, a worker at the Victoria Bug Zoo and member of MoveUP’s bargaining committee.
“The Bug Zoo workers love where we work. We love bugs, and we love helping people get to know these special creatures. Thanks to the support of our union, MoveUP, we can now do that with the assurance and clarity of a collective agreement for the first time in the 25-plus year history of this special Victoria science education attraction,” Cronin added.
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Another employee, Alyssa Allen says she is excited for the future.
“All of us at the Bug Zoo care deeply about the work we do, and have a collective agreement makes all of us stronger and better able to do our jobs of taking care of these incredible bugs and sharing our passion with visitors from Victoria and around the world,” explained Allen.
MoveUP say they represent nearly 14,000 union members at public and private sector companies across Canada, but primarily in British Columbia.
Some of their members work for companies and organizations such as BC Hydro, FortisBC, ICBC, Capilano University, transit providers, credit unions and car rental companies.
