B.C. tax collectors who will become federal employees under a plan to replace the provincial sales tax with the HST have won some job protection.
The B.C. Government and Service Employees Union, which now represents the 400 provincial finance ministry workers involved in collecting provincial tax, says a deal has been signed by the B.C. and federal governments.
Union President Darryl Walker says the agreement will protect pay, benefits and seniority for the workers over a four-year span.
During that time, the Canada Revenue Agency will offer the provincial employees jobs in several stages, the first effective Nov. 1.
The workers can either accept a job with the federal agency or stay with the provincial finance ministry, but the BCGEU is recommending they give serious thought to taking the federal job.
The HST will blend the seven per cent provincial sales tax with the five per cent GST effective July 1.
