BCGEU ramping up for potential job action after talks break down
The head of the B.C. General Employees’ Union says preparations for job action are ramping up after talks with the province broke down.
Earlier this week, the Public Services Agency sent an infographic showing the employer’s latest offer directly to the union's members, bypassing the negotiating team. The move is highly unusual and coming under fire by the BCGEU.
"We're disappointed that that was a tactic that was used by our employer," union president Stephanie Smith told CTV News.
The infographic shows the province is offering a 25 cent per hour increase plus a three per cent raise in year one. There's an additional 25 cent hourly increase with a 2.5 per cent raise in year two, and a three per cent raise in year three – with the possibility of another one per cent.
Together with a one-time $2,500 payment, the infographic says that works out to roughly 11 per cent over three years for the lowest earners.
"Interestingly, it has not landed well with our members," added Smith.
The province put out the numbers after the union did the same, detailing a previous offer. Smith said that was strategic.
"We needed them to understand why we were coming to them and asking for a strike vote. And so we did take the unusual step of providing that to our membership," she added.
The union is looking for five per cent for each of the next two years, or the cost of living, whichever is higher.
The employer didn't provide anyone for an interview Thursday. It’s not something the Public Services Agency typically does.
According to public documents, the government spends more than $38-billion on compensation. A one per cent bump means an additional $314 million needs to be found in the budget.
"We're not asking for anything outrageous. wages that are tied to inflation are what members of the legislative assembly get," added Smith.
Whether MLAs or unions, the increases fall to the taxpayer, who relies on public services and may also be feeling the pinch of inflation. The goal in negotiations now is to get a deal before any potential job action.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States, injuring at least three people.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.