BCGEU collective agreement includes wage protection against inflation
Posted October 18, 2022 1:12 pm.
The biggest union representing public service workers in British Columbia has ratified a new collective agreement with the provincial government that includes wage protection against inflation.
The B.C. Government Employees’ Union (BCGEU) says 53.4 per cent of eligible members who cast ballots voted to ratify the deal that followed two weeks of strikes and eight months of negotiating.
The Public Service Bargaining Committee is pleased to announce that the public service bargaining unit voted 53.4% in favour of the tentative agreement reached w/ the employer, BC's Public Service Agency. 71.2% of the 32,600 eligible members in the bargaining unit voted.#bcpoli
— BCGEU (@bcgeu) October 18, 2022
The union has more than 30,000 members including people working in social services, environmental management, corrections, and liquor stores.
It says in addition to wage protection, the three-year agreement includes improvements to occupational health, safety, and mental health in the workplace, employment security, and equity.
The B.C. government says in a statement the deal includes various pay adjustments for select occupations to respond to recruitment and retention challenges and will protect health care and other services.
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It says the wage increase includes a flat raise of 25 cents per hour plus 3.24 per cent in the first year, along with up to 6.75 per cent in the second year, and three per cent in the third.
The BCGEU and province reached a tentative agreement on Sept. 7, ending weeks of strike action that affected liquor and cannabis businesses across the B.C.
That came the week after the BCGEU paused job action — including an overtime ban and picket lines at BC Liquor Distribution Branch locations — as a “sign of good faith,” adding “significant progress” was being made.
The BCGEU issued its 72-hour strike notice on Aug. 12.
