Photo: Colin Dacre The union, which represents more than 33,000 government officials in British Columbia, says contract talks with the province have stalled due to differences in wage proposals. The president of the BC General Staff, Stephanie Smith, says the government’s current wage offer is not enough to provide cost-of-living protection, and the union will launch a training campaign to prepare workers for the strike. The contract expired on March 31. Smith says in a statement that the union is seeking a two-year deal that proposes a five percent wage increase or inflation rate, which is higher in 2022 and 2023, with the province offering 1.75 percent this year and 2 percent both 2023 as well as 2024. Both the Civil Service Agency, which represents the government, and the union have additional proposals that include flat-rate pay rises for the benefit of low-paid civil servants. Treasury Secretary Celina Robinson said in a statement that she understood and respected that part of the negotiation process could include a union that would take a strike vote. “I respect their privilege to do so in any round of negotiations,” he said. “The best deals are worked out on the table. Leaving the discussions on the table allows the negotiating parties to focus on reaching settlements.”
