The BC government continues to butt heads with unions as strike activity has escalated this week.
As of Tuesday, September 9th, the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) is escalating their current strike against the BC Public Service Agency by establishing new picket lines throughout BC.
This move to escalate the strike marks the beginning of the second week of strike action.
The BCGEU says that escalation is necessary because the Province has refused to return to the bargaining table with a revised wage offer for BC Public Service workers.
“The public service bargaining committee is ready to return to negotiations as soon as government comes back with a new wage mandate,” said Paul Finch, BCGEU president and chair of the public service bargaining committee.
“BCGEU members have asked for 4% in year one and 4.25% in year two. This is a reasonable ask for members who provide critical services across the province.”
According to the Province, this combined 8.25% wage increase over two years does not reflect the totality of what the union is asking for at the bargaining table.
The Province says that the BCGEU is calling for a wage increase of 15.75% over two years when other compensations are considered.
The Ministry of Finance put together a fact sheet that says the estimated full cost of the BCGEU’s monetary proposals includes over $200 million in additional compensation increases.
The latest offer from the Province to BCGEU workers set the proposed wage increase at 4.5% over two years.
“We value our outstanding government workers who deliver services British Columbians depend on, including those on the front lines serving our communities,” said Brenda Bailey, BC Minister of Finance in a statement to Victoria Buzz.
“In every cycle of bargaining, our government has demonstrated our willingness to get a good deal for everyone, with fair working conditions and wages that also helps us maintain our fiscal plan.”
However, Bailey added that the Province must acknowledge the reality that BC finds itself in right now, which is a limited fiscal position caused by the impacts of the US trade war.
Though the Province’s position is that their offer is a fair one, the union disagrees, and says that they are waiting for a better offer, more in line with their proposal before they continue negotiations.
“We need government to come to the table with a fair deal,” said Finch. “Until then, our union will continue to escalate job action across the province.”
The escalated BCGEU strike includes 2,000 BC Public Service workers picketing at 22 locations. Of those picket locations, nine are located in Victoria at 976 Meares, 617 Government, 3350 Douglas, 4000 Seymour, 1802 Douglas, 1810 Blanshard, 836 Yates, 675 Belleville and 716 Courtney Street.
In addition to the BCGEU strike, the Province is also in negotiations with Government Licensed Professionals workers, who are represented by the Professional Employees Association (PEA).
These workers have joined BCGEU workers in several strike actions across Victoria and BC.
