Union workers stage province-wide one-day strike Wednesday
By Nelson Daily Staff
Get ready for a general strike . . . well, almost.
On Wednesday (September 5) workers from the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU), Professional Employees Association (PEA) and Canadian Office & Professional Employees Union (COPE) Local 378 will stage a one-day strike to back contract demands with the provincial government.
““We are looking for a fair and reasonable agreement, but the government is not listening. We have no choice but to send a clear message on September 5: there can be no more falling behind for all government workers.” said BCGEU President Darryl Walker in a message the union website.
“We’ve not taken the decision to strike lightly. Our last strike in direct government was over 20 years ago.”
Wednesday approximately 27,000 BCGEU, PEA and COPE 378 members who work for the B.C. government will go on strike in 153 communities and 1785 government worksites across B.C.
The one-day strike will close government liquor stores, some ICBC branches connected to Service B.C. offices, and other government offices.
The only BCGEU workers on the job Wednesday will be in essential services such as child protection, fire prevention, prisons and courthouses.Walker said since 2010, B.C. government workers have suffered a real wage cut of five percent.
The government’s last offer, which has been withdrawn, would see pay cheques fall further behind inflation.
“Our professional members have in almost all cases chosen public service because of their commitment to serving the public”, said Scott McCannell, PEA Executive Director.
“Without some protections to stop a clear trend of downsizing licensed professionals in the public service, the public interest will not be served. Our members will be taking job action for the first time in their 38 year history to send a message to the government that this issue needs to be addressed and that we need a fair settlement.”
“We’ve exhausted our other options with ICBC and the provincial government,” said COPE 378 President David Black.
“Our members have spent over two years without a collective agreement doing more work for less pay.”
The unions said essential service levels would be guaranteed so the health, safety and welfare of British Columbians will not be impacted by the job action.
Motorists on the North Shore of Nelson saw the last one-day strike Monday, August 20, when 50 B.C. Government Employee Union workers walked out in front of the Kootenay Lake Regional office at Ridgewood Road.
The job action was the third time BCGEU workers walked off the job in support of a better contract.
Fellow workers in Prince George, Cranbrook, Dawson Creek and Burns Lake joined the Nelson BCGEU members during the one-day job action.
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