Job action possible as talks break down with B.C. General Employees' Union
Despite initial discussions being positive, negotiations between the B.C. General Employees’ Union and the Public Services Agency hit an impasse on Monday.
“There was no counterproposal from the employer, so at that point they gave us nothing to work with,” explained Stephanie Smith, BCGEU president. “So we’ve broken off talks.”
Smith said the union, which represents a wide range of public service workers, including forest firefighters and corrections officers, wants a minimum five per cent raise for the next two years, with a cost-of-living clause and wage protection from inflation.
It’s more than the two per cent yearly raise in the previous agreement, which expired in the spring, but the BCGEU chalks it up to inflation, which has soared to record highs.
“It is eating into the real purchasing power of workers' wages,” said Jim Stanford, an economist with Centre for Future Work.
“Wages in Canada have only been growing at between three and four per cent over the last year, but prices are up twice as fast – almost eight per cent.”
The BCGEU won’t confirm if and when members might go on strike, only saying the union wants to minimize the impact on the public.
“Job action can look very different,” said Smith. “It can be an overtime ban, or it can be something called work to rule, where you do exactly what’s in your job description. You arrive on time, take breaks on time, and leave on time.”
The provincial government is confident job action can be avoided, telling CTV News in an emailed statement it “respects the hardworking members of B.C.’s public sector and we believe that agreements will be reached through the collective bargaining process.”
More than 180 collective agreements covering nearly 400,000 workers must be renewed in B.C. With most industries short-staffed, experts say workers have leverage.
"Employers are going to have to wrap their minds around the fact that wages have to grow faster if they want to settle these contract negotiations without a work stoppage,” said Stanford.
The BCGEU was armed with a 94.6 per cent strike mandate when the two sides met last week.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
World's record-breaking hot temperature streak stretches through April
The world just experienced its hottest April on record, extending an 11-month streak in which every month set a temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said on Wednesday.
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Trial begins for Winnipeg serial killer who claims he was mentally ill
The trial of a man who admits he killed four women in Winnipeg is set to begin Wednesday, and a law professor says lawyers for Jeremy Skibicki have multiple hurdles to clear for a defence of mental illness.