Job action looms in B.C. as talks collapse with BC General Employees Union
The British Columbia government says it is offering public service workers a new three-year contract with wage increases amounting to almost 11 per cent and a signing bonus of up to $2,500, but the union says it's planning job action.
The government's Public Service Agency says it is working to achieve a fair and reasonable settlement with the 33,000-member B.C. General Employees' Union, but contract talks have broken off and the union says it's making strike plans.
Bobbi Sadler, deputy minister for the agency, says in a statement to union members that with potential job action in the future, she wants to share the employer's wage offer directly with them.
An earlier BCGEU statement says initial discussions were positive, but the government refused to counter the union's latest wage proposal and talks hit an impasse.
Union president Stephanie Smith says a cost-of-living clause and wage protection from inflation are key demands for members of the public service bargaining unit, but the government's offer amounts to a wage cut.
The union statement says the BCGEU is now planning strategic, targeted job action and preparing final essential services with the assistance of the Labour Relations Board.
More than 180 collective agreements covering nearly 400,000 workers must be renewed in B.C. this year.
“Under this offer, the average BCGEU employee would receive wage increases of up to 10.99 per cent over the three-year term of the collective agreement,” Sadler's statement says.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.