About 100 union employees rallied up Main Street today (Wednesday), calling on the B.C. Government to voice contract concerns.
This included the B.C. General Employees Union (BCGEU), Professional Employees Association, B.C. Nurses Union, and the Kitimat-Terrace and District Labour Council.
“This is our sixth week of being on strike so we’re doing a march across town, meet with a worksite that’s also picketing, and show the community we’re out here,” said Spokesperson Ryan Lapointe.
He added one of the main requests the BCGEU is looking for is an increase in wages on top of various other changes as jobs have changed.
“In addition to the high inflation of the last couple of years since [the COVID pandemic], we’re also looking to catch up becuase we’ve had two to three decades of wages that were stagnent and not keeping up with inflation,” Lapointe said.
Today was chosen to do the strike as there are more sites on strike wanting to meet and show solidarity together.
While marching up Main Street, the rally stopped outside Bulkley Valley-Stikine MLA Sharron Hartwell’s office.
“I think pretty much all British Columbians are hurting with the cost of living other than a small percent, and we support all workers to get better wages,” said Lapointe.
Something going on in the Bulkley Valley Lakes District you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing pgnews@vistaradio.ca.
