The union representing 33,000 provincial government workers will be in a legal position to strike from 2:46 p.m. Monday. The BC Union of General Employees has not released details of the industrial action it will take. Members are advised that they will be contacted over the weekend if their site is selected for work. A general message about the industrial action will be issued on Monday morning by the union. “The goal of your bargaining committee has always been to reach an agreement that provides adequate cost-of-living protection for your wages,” the union said in a message to members. “That is still our goal and we are ready to come back to the table when your employer proves that they are able to meet your requirements.” Union members have been without a contract since April 1st, and while negotiations began on February 8th, they reached an impasse on April 6th. In June, 95 per cent of voting members expressed their support for action for work. The government has said it is offering a pay rise of almost 11 percent over three years, while the union is pushing for more in the face of 8 percent annual inflation. “Our members have been clear from day one that their priority this round of negotiations has been to protect the cost of living for their wages,” said Stephanie Smith, president of the BCGEU. “The bottom line is that they are not asking for anything that the MLAs don’t already have. The strike vote in June and today’s strike announcement is a signal to the government that our members are serious.” The Public Service Agency of BC issued a statement acknowledging concerns about inflation, especially among workers at the lower end of pay scales. His mandate “seeks to deal with economic uncertainty and the rising costs of inflation as best we can,” including providing an additional raise to lower-paid workers. Before work action begins, baseline service levels are set to ensure critical services continue, the statement said. “BC public sector members are hard-working people who deserve fair collective agreements and we know that fair agreements will be reached through the collective bargaining process,” the statement said. “We respect a union’s prerogative to take a strike vote or industrial action during the bargaining process.” BCGEU members who work directly for the province include those who manage government liquor and cannabis stores, provide services for child protection, natural resource management, institutionalized mental health care, provincial correctional facility staff, forestry fires and the provision of technical and graphic Services. Action for work means “employees could refuse to work overtime, perform only the duties outlined in their employment contract and be determined to take their breaks on time,” Smith said. He said he was hoping for a better offer from the government before the job action began. “We’re asking for wage protection from inflation with a cost-of-living adjustment clause in a new collective agreement.” — With files from the Vancouver Sun
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