B.C. direct government workers head back to bargaining table with strong strike mandate

"We’re hoping the B.C. Government has heard their message and gets serious about negotiating a fair and reasonable agreement with us.” - Darryl Walker, BCGEU President.

Vancouver (24 May 2012) - Members of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union's (BCGEU/NUPGE) public service bargaining committee, which represents direct B.C. Government workers, resume negotiations this week.

This will be their first meeting since talks broke off at the end of March.

Last week, the BCGEU/NUPGE announced bargaining unit members had voted 82 per cent in favour of job action to back contract proposals.

“We’re going back to the bargaining table with a strong strike mandate,” said BCGEU President Darryl Walker. “Our members have told us - loud and clear - they’re willing to take job action if necessary. We’re hoping the B.C. Government has heard their message and gets serious about negotiating a fair and reasonable agreement with us.”

The BCGEU/NUPGE is seeking a wage increase of inflation plus one per cent. Members haven’t had a general pay increase in three years, during which time the cost of living has reduced their spending power by more than five per cent. The government offered a total compensation (wages and benefits) increase of 1.5 per cent per year. This offer was rescinded in mid-April.

To fund its proposals, the union has presented the government with concrete proposals aimed at generating hundreds of millions of dollars in new annual revenues and savings. The government has so far shown no interest in these proposals.

More information:

B.C. Government and Service Employees Union

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE