B.C.'s hospitals, liquor stores and ICBC call centres will be some of the services hit when 27,000 unionized B.C. government workers go on strike next week.
A September 5 strike was announced yesterday by the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU), Professional Employees Association (PEA) and Canadian Office & Professional Employees Union (COPE) Local 378.
According to the unions, B.C. government workers have seen a 5% real wage cut since 2010. They stated that the government's last offer, which has been withdrawn, would see workers' pay cheques fall further behind inflation.
Darryl Walker, BCGEU president, said the government is not listening to workers' demands.
"We have no choice but to send a clear message on September 5: there can be no more falling behind for all government workers," he said. He added that the union's "last strike in direct government" was more than 20 years ago.
David Black, president of COPE 378, said the union has exhausted its options with ICBC and the provincial government.
"Our members have spent over two years without a collective agreement doing more work for less pay," he said.
Scott McCannell, executive director of PEA, said his union is protesting "a clear trend of downsizing licensed professionals in the public sector." He said the union is taking job action for the first time in its 38-year history.
The unions stated that essential service levels are guaranteed and that the "health, safety and welfare of British Columbians will not be impacted by the job action."
