Negotiations between the B.C. Government Employees Union and the province have hit a roadblock once again, as reported by the BCGEU.
After a hiatus of two months, both parties convened on Monday morning to resolve a job action that led to the shutdown of numerous B.C. liquor outlets and government facilities.
BCGEU president Paul Finch expressed disappointment, stating, “We arrived prepared to engage in discussions, but the government’s offer showed minimal deviation from their previous proposal.”
According to Finch, the province tabled a meager offer of a two percent annual wage increase over two years, totaling four percent.
“It’s futile to reconvene if no substantial changes are on the table. We are well aware of each side’s position. This was entirely unsatisfactory,” he emphasized.
In response to what he perceives as a lack of respect from the government, Finch announced that the union will intensify its job action significantly.
“You cannot simply convene meetings and claim to negotiate. The public is exasperated. They are tired of government inaction, the failure to negotiate, and the failure to present a reasonable offer that our members can endorse,” Finch elaborated.
While the union is pushing for an 8.25 percent wage increase over two years, the government asserts its aim for a fair agreement that benefits both taxpayers and employees.
Although discussions resumed today following a four-week job action, picket lines persist at approximately one-third of provincial liquor stores, liquor and cannabis distribution centers, and government offices across the province.
The union disclosed that around 15,000 of its 34,000 members engaged in the contract dispute are participating in various forms of job action, from an overtime prohibition to picketing.