B.C.'s public service workers have voted to authorize a strike, according to an announcement by the B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) on Friday, Aug. 29.
BCGEU President Paul Finch said 92.7 per cent of workers voted in favour of authorization, and 86.4 per cent of eligible members voted.
Finch said the government indicated it would not return to the table, and the union plans to issue a 72-hour strike notice for action taking effect 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday.
Professional Employees' Association members have also voted to authorize a strike and will be issuing a 72-hour strike notice alongside the BCGEU.
On July 18, Finch declared an impasse in negotiations on the next collective agreement for the roughly 34,000 members of the public service bargaining unit. This includes workers ranging from conservation officers to B.C. Liquor Store employees to social workers.
The Professional Employees' Union includes workers
The last collective agreement expired at the end of March, and the two sides have been far apart on the next wage increase. The government offered a two-year deal with a combined 3.5 per cent pay increase, while the union countered with four per cent in year one, followed by 4.25 per cent in year two.
The previous agreement was struck in 2022 during a period of pandemic-induced high inflation and gave workers a more than 14-per-cent raise over three years. That deal was reached after workers authorized a strike.
Limited job action took place, with workers from the liquor distribution branch walking off the job and picketing.
It has yet to be revealed what kind of job action the union is planning this time around.
Black Press Media has reached out to the B.C. government for comment.
More to come.
