The B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) is ramping up job action as the public service strike enters its eighth day.
As of Tuesday, Sept 9, more than 4,000 government workers are on strike across 22 sites provincewide, up from 2,500 workers at nine sites the week prior.
BCGEU President Paul Finch addressed the planned escalation on Monday, speaking to reporters from the picket lines.
"At this time, we've prioritized not impacting the general public. We've prioritized impacting core government services," he said. "After a while, if government does not come to the table, that will change."
So far, the majority of government workers on strike work in inward-facing roles such as information technology and administration, with the exception of workers at the Royal B.C. Museum, which Finch has called a "toxic workplace."
The BCGEU is on strike alongside the Professional Employees' Union (PEA). The BCGEU represents roughly 34,000 public service workers, ranging from conservation officers to B.C. liquor store employees, while the PEA represents about 1,800 workers in roles such as foresters and psychologists.
On Monday, the B.C. government released figures showing the cost of both the government's offer and the union proposals, combining those with the last collective agreement, which was renegotiated during a period of high pandemic-induced inflation and provided workers with a 14.25-per-cent raise over three years.
This time, unions are seeking a four-per-cent pay increase for year one of the new agreement, followed by another 4.25 per cent in year two. The government is offering 3.5 per cent over two years — though the new costings released Monday put this figure at 4.5 per cent, because it includes an extra one-per-cent offer for certain low-wage and long-serving employees.
The government acknowledges that the offer this time around is slightly below inflation, but argues that taking the previous three years into account, the pay raise exceeds inflation over the full five-year period.
In addition, the government asserts that the union's proposal for the new agreement includes extras equivalent to another 7.5 per cent general wage increase, boosting the union's ask far above an estimated 4.8 per cent inflation rate. All told, the government reckons the union's proposal would cost an additional $437 million annually.
The union counters that the average wage for members is 2.7 per cent below the provincial weekly average for all workers, and that its two-year proposal lifts wages for members at the lower end of the pay scale, while incorporating targeted occupational adjustments and bonuses.
"We want government to come back to the table with a wage offer that meets the needs of our membership, that meets the needs of working people in B.C., and we're going to keep escalating until we do that," Finch said.
Members in Kelowna began striking on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Building picket captain Brittany, a B.C. public service employee, told Black Press that wage increases were promised last year to "keep up with inflation," but that did not happen.
"We want to make sure that we have a fair wage and a living wage so that we're still able to continue providing services to citizens, without the burnout and lack of resources."
Collective agreements for both unions expired at the end of March. Other public sector unions, such as those representing teachers and nurses, are also in the midst of renegotiating agreements. Public sector unions often add "me too" clauses to these deals to ensure they get wage increases commensurate with the other unions.
Because of this, the current strike is being closely watched by the other unions.
Editors Note: This story has been updated with quotes from members in Kelowna.
