The B.C. General Employees Union said Thursday its members in the public service have voted in favour of ratifying the tentative agreement reached with the province.
The union said the deal had the support of more than 89 per cent of members who voted.
The vote marks the formal end of the two-month strike. BCGEU President Paul Finch called it a “victory” for members.
“For eight difficult weeks, they stood firm-fighting for a strong public service that makes our province work. This deal proves that workers standing together is how real progress is made,” said Finch in a statement.
The agreement includes a general wage increase of three per cent each year, over four years, along with targeted pay adjustments for the lowest paid workers in the public service.
The modernized contract also addresses a number of other issues the union had been pushing for, like improved access to telework.
The union issued a 72-hour strike notice on Aug. 29, and launched job action on Sept. 2.
The province played hardball on the deal, with Premier David Eby saying B.C. is facing significant “fiscal headwinds.”
The strike escalated throughout the following weeks, with about 25,000 public service workers walking off the job at government ministries, liquor distribution warehouses and dozens of other sites.
Renewed talks with the province broke down in late September. The BCGEU said at the time it was asking for an eight per cent general wage increase over two years. It said the province came the table with a four per cent increase over two years and refused to budge.
The union announced on Oct. 17 it was entering mediation talks with the province, led by renowned mediator Vince Ready and his colleague Amanda Rogers.
The tentative agreement was announced after eight days of mediation, and striking BCGEU workers were back at work by Oct. 27.
Finch thanked the public for their support and patience throughout the job action.
“Throughout the strike, public service workers were eager to return to their jobs serving the public. They did not take this job action lightly,” said Finch. “We know this strike has had an impact on the public, and our commitment was always to strengthen public services.”
The Professional Employees Association launched a concurrent strike on Sept. 2, and removed its picket lines after the BCGEU reached its tentative deal. The union represents licensed professionals working for the government, from geoscientists to lawyers.
PEA said the province is offering its members the same general wage increases as well as other key proposals that were agreed to by the BCGEU. It said on Oct. 26 it was returning to negotiations with the province on the remainder of the agreement.
The post BCGEU members accept tentative agreement, officially ending strike appeared first on AM 1150.
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