The British Columbia government has unveiled details of its last offer to striking public service workers, ahead of the expected expansion of job action by the B.C. General Employees’ Union.
The Finance Ministry says the government is proposing a 4.5 per cent compensation increase over two years, made up of both general wage increases and cost-of-living allowances.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!It says the union wants 15.75 per cent, while BCGEU President Paul Finch has previously said it was seeking a 4 per cent wage increase in the first year and 4.25 per cent in the second year, plus unspecified allowances.
The ministry says the BCGEU’s 8.25 per cent wage request “only tells part of the story” and it estimates the full cost of the union’s proposals at more than $200 million in “additional compensation increases.”
It puts the ongoing annual cost of the BCGEU’s wage and other compensation proposals at $437 million.
The announcement comes as Finch is expected to lay out the next phase of the public service strike that was launched last Tuesday.
The union says Finch will speak at a picket line in Surrey.
The union represents more than 34,000 members working for B.C.’s public service and has held picket lines at locations including government sites in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, and Prince George, and the Royal BC Museum.
It says some of its key asks include competitive wages and fair access to telework.
Premier David Eby has said the government’s goal is to reach a deal that’s both fair to unionized workers and fair to taxpayers.
Negotiations for a new contract broke off in July.