After a weeks-long process, the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) says provincial public sector workers have voted to approve strike action, beginning 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
Union president Paul Finch says there was 92.7 per cent support for strike action, with 86.4 per cent of Public Service Agency members in the union casting votes.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!In addition, he says, polls have shown public support for job action as well.
“British Columbians know that working people need wages they can live on. That’s what it comes down to, and our members know that,” he said.
“Our message to government: revise your mandate and come back to the table.”
Finch says the vote represents an “overwhelming mandate for fair wages.”
“The average wage of a wildfire fighter right now, fighting fires in this province, is about $28 an hour,” he said.
“And this comes inside of a context. Over the past 15 years, excluded positions inside the civil service have earned almost double the rate of the frontline workforce that we depend on.”
The union says it won’t be releasing details about the job action at this time.
The vote was announced in July after the BCGEU said negotiations with the provincial government fell apart. Voting began Aug. 11.
At that time, Finch said the impasse related to wages, work-from-home rules, and the need to modernize the contract.
Government last offered 1.5 per cent increase
Finch said BCGEU’s members were facing an affordability crisis, warning skilled workers will be lost if wages don’t keep up with inflation.
The union said the proposal it issued to the government in July asked for a two-year deal with wage increases for members at the lower end of the pay scale. The government’s last offer was a 1.5 per cent increase in the first year and two per cent in the second year. Finch said members found this unacceptable.
The results of the strike vote come a day after the announcement of a deal framework between the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) and the government. The BCGEU says it is disappointed in the HEU for accepting a deal that is below inflation.
“This agreement undermines the very fight that public service workers across B.C. are taking on together for fair wages and respect at the bargaining table,” the BCGEU said about the HEU deal.
The BCGEU represents around 34,000 public-service members, including correctional staff, social workers, and liquor store employees.
Minister assures that government will continue to function
At a press conference on Friday, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Transit, Mike Farnworth, said that “in the event of job action, it’s important to remember that the services that protect health, safety and the welfare of British Columbians will continue,” he said.
He also used the opportunity to emphasize to reporters that he wants to see both parties return to the bargaining table.
“The best agreements are achieved at the negotiating table. It’s also our belief that the common ground necessary to reach agreements that work for both sides will be found at the bargaining table.”
Farnworth did not provide much more information. When reporters pressed him to provide more details on the negotiations, the minister referred back to the negotiations with the union.
“Where an agreement will be achieved is at the bargaining table,” he repeatedly said.
He admitted that negotiations can be difficult, but he did not provide any explanation for why the union rejected the government’s previous offer.
“Negotiations are often complex and unique with different situations.”
“Negotiations take place at the bargaining table. They’re not done by press conference or in public,” Farnworth added.
He says that the government and the union are going to meet again next week.
— With files from Srushti Gangdev and The Canadian Press.