Majority of BC General Employees’ Union workers prepared to strike

BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) workers say they are willing to walk off the job if contract demands are not met by the province’s Public Service Agency.

Following a month-long vote, nearly 95 per cent of the workers said they would be prepared to strike over their collective agreement, which is set to expire.

After it was announced, the union says the province invited stakeholders back to the table, with negotiations set to start Monday.

“Members of their bargaining unit are employees of direct government, including wildfire fighters, social workers, sheriffs and correctional officers, administrative staff, employees in BC Liquor and Cannabis stores and warehouses, as well as conservation officers, employees who do field and lab work in the realm of environmental monitoring, and more,” the BCGEU said in a statement Wednesday.

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Citing the high cost of living and inflation rates in B.C., the union says members are seeking wages which will have cost of living protection, in order to continue recruiting and retaining staff.

“Our province was in an affordability crisis before the pandemic and before inflation started to skyrocket last year,” says Smith. “Any wage offer that doesn’t include COLA protection is a wage cut, and no worker should have to accept a pay cut,” Stephanie Smith, president of the BCGEU and chair of the bargaining committee said.

Smith says the vote sends a strong message to the province, as many other unions will be having members cast similar ballots as their collective agreements are also expiring this year, including the BC Nurses Union. The BCNU’s contract expired in March.

The Government of B.C. released a statement, saying they believe an agreement will be reached through collective bargaining.

“As part of that process, we respect any unions’ prerogative to take a strike vote during a round of negotiations. Bargaining is a dynamic process and I think we all recognize that this round includes even more than the usual challenges. I believe that the parties are committed to reaching negotiated settlements that work for everyone at the table and now that this vote has been taken, we look forward to the discussions resuming.”

According to the BCGEU, that says some 400,000 public sector employees are set to renegotiate.

Smith adds that she is hopeful the employer wants to table a serious offer. “Our goal has always been to get a deal at the bargaining table. But if the employer is not fair and reasonable, members are prepared to action their strike vote in the future.”