Striking B.C. public service workers announce tentative deal with province
CBC
The B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) has struck a tentative deal with the provincial government, which could end the weeks-long strike that has impacted everything from liquor distribution to wildfire fighting.
The Professional Employees Association (PEA) also announced it will take down its picket lines and return to bargaining with the B.C. government.
More than 25,000 workers represented by the BCGEU and more than 1,600 workers represented by the PEA have been on some form of job action since Sept. 2.
The BCGEU says it is also taking down its picket lines, and members of both unions will return to their jobs on Monday.
The BCGEU's tentative agreement, which still needs to be ratified, includes a three per cent general wage increase per year over the next four years.
The BCGEU's tentative deal, announced Sunday, comes after mediated talks with the province.
BCGEU president Paul Finch said in an interview that the tentative agreement was reached just after 7 a.m. PT on Sunday, and he is "incredibly happy" with it.
"This comes after a very hard-fought victory, you know, for our members — and really, broadly, for working people in B.C.," he said.
In a statement, the BCGEU said the proposed agreement marks "significant progress" on issues like wages and affordability, but it will be up to the 34,000 public service workers to ratify it.
Most of them have been on strike for eight weeks, setting up picket lines at government offices, B.C. Liquor Stores, Liquor Distribution Branch facilities and more — leading to a strained supply of booze and cannabis in particular.
A number of government-run programs — from student loans to IVF funding and correctional services — were impacted by the strike.
The agreement would improve working arrangements for telework and remote workers, and include targeted pay hikes for the lowest-paid public servants, the union says.
Finch said that information on the ratification process would be given to members over the next week, and voting itself would begin the week after.
A simple majority of workers will need to vote in favour of the agreement for it to be ratified, Finch said.
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