With talks seemingly at an impasse, the B.C. General Employees’ Union will canvass its 33,000 members to take a strike vote.
With a large gap between the union’s wage demands and what the provincial government has been offering, the union has opted to give its members a voice on how to move forward.
“We’ve been clear from day one that cost of living protection for wages was the key to a deal this round,” said BCGEU president Stephanie Smith. “It’s a fair demand and we know government can afford it but the employer tabled two wage proposals that didn’t even get halfway there. This vote is a chance for our members to tell their employer what they think of those offers.”
The union has been demanding a five per cent wage increase, or a raise tied to inflation, while the province countered with a wage increase proposal of 1.5 per cent in the first year and increases of two per cent in 2023 and 2024.
“This is the BCGEU’s largest bargaining unit and for more than one-third of these members this is their first round of bargaining,” said Smith. “This is their collective agreement and a strike vote is a major undertaking so it’s critical that we take time to make sure every member is informed and engaged and has a chance to vote.”
The strike vote will be conducted over five weeks starting May 16. The vote will be counted June 22.
The union said it had started preparing for an impasse and potential job action early in the bargaining process, including negotiating with the Public Service Agency to determine essential service levels in case of job action.
Essential service negotiations are expected to continue for several more weeks.
“We know that the best place to get a deal is at the table, and that is still our goal,” said Smith. “Experience tells us that a strong strike vote can be a very effective way to make that goal a reality.”
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