BCGEU reaches tentative deal with Province after eight weeks of job action

The BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) and the Provincial Government have reached a tentative agreement.

“This tentative agreement is the result of the incredible strength and solidarity of BCGEU and PEA members across the province,” said Union President Paul Finch.

“For eight weeks, they held the line – standing up for themselves, their families, and the public services that make life in B.C. possible. This deal shows that when workers stand together, we can make real progress.”

According to the union, employees will receive a general wage increase of three per cent per year over four years, along with additional targeted pay adjustments for the lowest paid workers in the public service.

Other non-monetary improvements and enhanced benefits include:

• Improved fairness around telework and a modernized contract to reflect today’s workplace realities.
• Stronger job protections, including a new process to review excluded positions and return improperly excluded ones to the bargaining unit.
• A faster grievance tribunal process to resolve disputes more efficiently.
• Improved vision care and counselling benefits to better support mental health and overall wellbeing.
• Established a category of fully remote workers that have unique agreement protections.

The Union adds more details will be shared directly with members in the coming days.

Professional Employees Union members remain on strike.

BCGEU members went on strike in September, and continued to escalate job action over time.

More than 25,000 public service workers were on strike over the eight week period.

– story done by Darin Bain, MyPGNow.com staff