BCGEU characterizes latest wage offer by B.C. as a cut

It seems the road to a new contract for the province’s public servants is a bumpy one as the British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) announces talks are at an impasse for the second time.

The collective agreement that covers 33,000 members expired on March 31. They’re seeking a five per cent wage or cost of living increase – whichever is greater – for each of the next two years, plus a flat rate increase in the second year.

Read More: B.C.’s five largest public-sector unions teaming up to aim for liveable wages

But union president Stephanie Smith says the offer was nowhere near sufficient.

“We’ve been very clear from the beginning that our members are expecting cost of living adjustments and inflation protections, and their wage offer fell far, far short of that,” she said.

The government is offering a three-year contract, with the largest wage increase at two per cent for each of the last two years.

“It really is unfortunate. And to be quite honest, it’s incredibly frustrating,” Smith told CityNews. “Public sector workers … gotten us through this pandemic, over the last two years, they’ve kept our province going. And as rates of inflation are increasing, increasing, they’ve seen their earning power decrease. So to be offered wage increases that, in fact, are wage cuts, is very, very disappointing … Everything is far more expensive now. And our members are just not able to keep up.”

Last month, the negotiations hit the first impasse. Negotiations then took a break for a couple of weeks.

With this being the first of several public sector negotiations to happen this year, a settlement here could set a precedent for other contracts. The BC Teachers Federation, Hospital Employees Union, Health Sciences Association and CUPE BC are all in the midst of negotiations with the province.