The government of B.C. has established a general bargaining mandate across the public sector that offers wage hikes of 3.5 per cent spread over two years. BCGEU employees are seeking an 8.25 per cent raise over the same time period.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
British Columbia’s core public service union has launched strike action, hoping to force a labour-friendly but debt-swamped government to more than double its wage offer in contract talks.
A segment of the B.C. General Employees’ Union’s 34,000 public sector workers walked off the job on Tuesday, and union president Paul Finch promised to escalate job action if the provincial government doesn’t return to the bargaining table with a better offer.
Members of the BCGEU received wage increases of at least 14 per cent in their last three-year contract, and the union this time is looking for wage hikes of 8.25 per cent over two years, with a potential cost-of-living increase on top of that. The province has established a general bargaining mandate across the public sector that offers wage hikes of 3.5 per cent spread over two years.
“We know the government can afford to pay the wages that generate a good economy in this province,” Mr. Finch told supporters on the picket line at a downtown government office in Victoria.
The first day of strike action only involved roughly 2,600 back-office workers, but he said British Columbians can expect wider job action in the days ahead until the government returns to the bargaining table with more money.
The BCGEU’s members include health care and education workers, sheriffs, correctional officers, policy analysts, social workers and government liquor-store workers.
Bert Blundon, president of the National Union of Public and General Employees, said the current round of labour talks in British Columbia will set the tone for public sector contract negotiations in other provinces, from Alberta to Newfoundland.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
The province posted a record $7.3-billion deficit last year, and has forecast a $10.9-billion deficit in the current fiscal year. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey will present a fiscal update on Sept. 15, which is expected to show the negative ramifications of trade tariffs that were not included in her budget tabled in March.
Speaking with reporters, Mr. Finch acknowledged the government’s record-breaking deficit, but said public servants are not to blame.
“We’ve seen the front-line work force has increased roughly in line with the population,” he said.
“What has created this deficit is poor governance, overspending on capital projects, tax breaks for the wealthy, and tax breaks on key resource projects that every British Columbian should be receiving benefits from.”
His critical tone contrasts strongly with the warm exchanges between labour leaders and Premier David Eby last fall after the provinces’ public sector unions helped re-elect the New Democratic Party government.
Now, the Eby government is struggling to rein in spending as tariffs threaten the economy, and the provincial deficit swells. It has imposed a hiring freeze in the civil service and is seeking to find at least $300-million in savings in this year’s budget.
Ms. Bailey said the province is under significant fiscal pressure as a result of Canada’s tariff wars with its key trading partners, the United States and China.
“We’re interested in labour stability, but we’re also really focused on operational efficiencies and preserving our front-line services in the context of the incredible global fiscal pressures that we’re experiencing,” she said in an interview.
The provincial government is in contract talks with most of its unionized work force – almost 500,000 workers across the public sector, including those in the direct civil service, Crown corporations, health, community social services, and education from kindergarten to postsecondary. Labour costs make up roughly 60 per cent of the provincial budget.
A wage increase of 1 per cent across the public sector is estimated to cost $532-million.
Bert Blundon, president of the National Union of Public and General Employees, said the current round of labour talks in British Columbia will set the tone for public sector contract negotiations in other provinces, from Alberta to Newfoundland.
“The affordability crisis here in British Columbia is acute and that’s why you’re seeing the BCGEU leading the nation as far as looking for better wages and benefits,” he said as he stood on the picket line at a downtown Victoria government location.
“The rest of the unions in NUPGE are watching this pretty closely as they get ready to pressure their own governments to say, ‘you have to react to this affordability crisis.’”