The BCGEU is heading back to the bargaining table this week in an effort to conclude a collective agreement for its roughly 25,000 members who work directly for the B.C. government.
Talks broke down after mediation failed last June. Since then, the BCGEU has conducted four one-day strikes and implemented an overtime ban to back demands for a fair and reasonable collective agreement.
"It's time to sit down and hammer out an agreement, if possible. If not, it won't be for lack of effort," said BCGEU president Darryl Walker. "Our members want a deal and we're going to get one."
Union leaders told Business in Vancouver last month that government workers have seen a 5% real wage cut since 2010, considering the impact of inflation. They stated that the government's last offer, which has been withdrawn, would see workers' pay cheques fall further behind inflation.
Negotiations are being conducted with a media blackout in place. No information about either the process or any progress is expected to be released while the two sides are talking, the BCGEU said in a press release.
