The B.C. Government Employees Union (BCGEU) announced November 5 that its 25,000 members had voted 64% in favour of a new two-year contract reached with the province in September.
The agreement, which expires March 31, 2014, gives workers a 4% wage hike and includes other gains such as:
- a renewal of the memorandum on employment security;
- an increase in the vehicle and meal allowance; and
- the withdrawal of the request for proposals to privatize liquor distribution.
“This agreement represents real improvements for members,” said BCGEU president Darryl Walker. “We thank them for ratifying the agreement and supporting the bargaining committee through many months of difficult negotiations and rotating job action.”
He then noted that many members remain frustrated that the issue of professional fees was not settled to the union’s satisfaction.
The union had wanted the government to pay BCGEU members’ professional fees at 2011 and 2012 levels, but the government agreed only to pay members’ fees up to the level that the fees were at in 2009.
“This difference will cost our members hundreds of dollars,” he said.
