Publication date: September 07, 2022 • 3 hours ago • 4 minutes read • 22 comments BCGEU strikers at No. 6 Road in Richmond, August 22, 2022. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

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A pattern of collective bargaining is likely to be in place for another 300,000 public sector workers after a tentative agreement reached Wednesday with the BC Union of General Employees.

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The share of pay for the 33,000 BCGEU workers is the same as what 60,000 health workers received last week, which was also revealed on Wednesday. Start your day with a roundup of BC-focused news and opinion delivered straight to your inbox at 7am, Monday to Friday. By clicking the subscribe button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

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The three-year agreement calls for a 25-cents-an-hour wage increase plus a 3.24 percent pay raise in addition, retroactive to April. In year 2, depending on the rate of inflation, workers will receive a wage increase of 5.5 to 6.75 percent. In year 3, the inflation-adjusted wage increase is two to three percent. The total wage increase over three years of up to more than 14 percent is higher than the 11 percent earlier rejected by the BCGEU. It also meets their request for recognition of inflation, which is running at a four-decade high annual rate of 7.6 per cent in Canada.

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The 300,000 public sector workers in BC who must also reach an agreement this year include 100,000 nurses and teachers. “It’s going to be the model,” said Mark Thompson, professor emeritus at the Sauder School of Business at the University of BC. Thompson, whose area of ​​expertise includes labor relations, said experience shows that union members are likely to vote in favor of deals proposed by their bargaining teams. Kendra Strauss, assistant professor of labor studies at Simon Fraser University, said it’s possible the wage component of the deal could be a springboard to other public sector settlements. However, she said other areas may have unique non-salary issues, including teacher issues such as the impact of COVID-19, as well as classroom resources and support. He also noted that teacher salaries in B.C. they are lower than some provinces, including Alberta.

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Christopher McLeod, an associate professor of occupational and environmental health at the University of BC, agreed that the wage regulation is likely to become a model for other public sector workers. He said the PK government is benefiting because allowance cost projections have been reduced, so it can estimate the cost of the deals. “It’s a generous deal by historical standards. … But I think the government has the fiscal capacity,” McLeod said. The province recently announced a budget surplus of $1.3 billion for the past fiscal year after projecting a deficit of nearly $10 billion. The BC government is projecting a $5.4 billion deficit this year. Labor watchers noted that other provisions of the deal — increasing certain positions on the wage scales — are intended to attract and retain people where there are labor shortages.

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Because of the tight labor market, wages are rising in parts of the private sector, sometimes at a higher rate than in the public sector, the academics noted. The BCGEU had taken action, striking liquor distribution warehouses and adopting an overtime ban, but canceled it to return to the bargaining table two weeks ago at the province’s request. The timing of the ratification votes will be announced soon, the association said. “After nearly two weeks of work and nine straight days at the table, enough progress has been made that the committee decided it was time to let our members see what’s on offer and have their say,” said Stephanie Smith, president of the BCGEU and chairman of the negotiating committee. In a written statement, BC Finance Minister Selina Robinson said the deal is fair and reasonable for workers now and three years from now.

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“This agreement balances the needs of workers with our fiscal responsibilities to the province and the British Columbian people,” he said. Robinson said she could not provide “detailed” cost estimates of the deal to the public purse. Earlier, the ministry said a one percent raise for all public sector employees would cost about $311 million a year. So a full 14 percent would cost about $4.4 billion. BCGEU agreements cover occupations that provide essential government services, such as social services, environmental management and public safety, including sheriffs and correctional officers. The agreement also covers unionized members of the Liquor Distribution Industry, as well as some workers at the BC Pension Corporation, Destination BC and the Royal BC Museum.

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In a message to members about the 60,000 health workers’ deal, the Hospital Workers Union said it was recommending members approve it. [email protected] twitter.com/gordon_hoekstra More news, less ads: Our in-depth journalism is made possible by the support of our subscribers. For just $3.50 a week, you can get unlimited, ad-lite access to the Vancouver Sun, The Province, the National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.

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