Latest news with #BCGEU
Vancouver Sun
23-07-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Vaughn Palmer: NDP hoped BCGEU would take the hint. It did not
VICTORIA — The B.C. New Democrats decided that a 'balanced budget' would be the theme for this year's contract bargaining in the public sector, hoping that the unions would take the hint and lower expectations. It hasn't worked with the B.C. General Employees Union, representing 34,000 public servants in central government. The union broke off negotiations with the province on Friday and put its members on notice to prepare for an online strike vote, now set for Aug. 11-29. 'The government tabled a wage offer that's below inflation,' said BCGEU president Paul Finch. 'That's completely unacceptable to our members.' A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Although the union hastened to assure members that a strike vote does not necessarily mean a strike, the two sides are far apart. The province, in keeping with its 'balanced budget bargaining mandate' was offering an increase of 3.5 per cent spread over two years. That is a relatively modest increase compared to the almost 14 per cent boost in the New Democrats granted in the three-year contract that expired March 31. The union countered with 8.25 per cent over two, plus a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) — more than double the government's attempt to hold the line. In costing the two positions, keep in mind that the BCGEU is only one of 180 or so public sector unions in this year's bargaining round. The government seeks to negotiate roughly comparable settlements in percentage terms with all public sector groups. The finance ministry says that a one-per-cent increase in wages and benefits across the broad public sector (workers and managers included) costs about $500 million each and every year going forward. The government offer — 1.5 per cent in year one followed by two in the second — would add $750 million to the wage bill in the first year and $1.75 billion in the second, $2.5 billion in all. The union's two-year counter of four per cent followed by 4.25 would cost $2 billion followed by $4.1 billion, or $6.1 billion in all. Not including the COLA. The union counteroffer would impose a much bigger cost on provincial finances than the government offer. But neither is affordable, given that the NDP is budgeting for an $11-billion deficit this year and $10 billion next. The BCGEU challenges the government's alarmist tone about provincial finances. 'The provincial deficit is not a crisis or a barrier to providing wage increases,' the union argued in a 22-page report calling for 'an investment in public safety and a healthy economy,' released last week. 'The deficit projections do not include … an additional $4 billion a year in contingency funds that could be allocated to wage increases, hiring and expansion,' the report notes. The union is right about the unallocated contingency funds in the budgets for this year and each of the next two, totalling $12 billion in all. In the past, the government has tapped contingencies to cover the cost of contract settlements negotiated after the budget is released. However, this year there are likely to be other demands on contingencies. The finance ministry has yet to account for the $2-billion hit on the revenue side, resulting from the decision to phase out the carbon tax. There is good reason to expect other hits on revenues because of slowing economic growth, a slumping housing market and the impact of U.S. tariffs. Some independent economists suggest the deficit could end up in the $14-billion to $15-billion range once all of the negative factors are taken into account. Yet the BCGEU sees no cause for concern. 'Even if deficit projections are accepted at face value, it does not represent a fiscal crisis,' the union analysis continues. 'The government's own budget projections illustrate a strong fiscal position with 2025 expenditures projected at 20.6 per cent of provincial GDP — only 2.2 per cent above the historical average since 2005.' Failing that, the NDP could always raise taxes. 'To sustain spending levels, government needs to take new revenue sources seriously — and many are available,' the BCGEU argues. 'Implementing a Land Value Tax, reforming the resource royalty system, increasing taxes on the wealthiest five per cent of people in B.C., hiring more provincial auditors, and taking an insourcing or buying local approach to government procurement.' Finance Minister Brenda Bailey chose not to rise to the union's bait, instead expressed faith in the collective bargaining process. 'I am hopeful the parties will return to the table soon,' she said in a brief media statement. 'It is best to keep the bargaining discussions at the table so the parties can focus on reaching a settlement.' Privately, the New Democrats fret that the BCGEU, usually one of the more conciliatory public service unions, has taken the kind of hard-line position associated with the B.C. Teachers' Federation. The government recruited former cabinet minister, and former BCGEU president, George Heyman on a $58,000 contract as an 'advocate' on public sector bargaining. He is still in there advocating, I'm told. But to date there is no evidence of reconciliation between the government Heyman once served as a minister and the union he once led. vpalmer@
CTV News
19-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
B.C.'s public service union prepares for strike vote after talks reach impasse
BCGEU president Paul Finch speaks to reporters at the legislature on Friday, July 18, 2025. (CTV News) VICTORIA — British Columbia's public service union representing 34,000 members says it's preparing for a strike vote after months-long negotiations fell apart. Paul Finch, president of the B.C. General Employees' Union, says the impasse came over wages, work from home rules and modernizing the contract. Finch says their members face an affordability crisis, and if wages don't keep up with inflation, skilled workers will be lost, including wildland firefighters, who 'are among the lowest paid employees in the entire government.' In the past 15 years, Finch says they have seen a 52 per cent increase in the size of 'excluded management' inside the public service, while at the same time, front line workers have been asked to do 'more with less.' Wildland firefighters are making $28 an hour, a wage Finch says does not reflect the work they do in protecting communities. B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey says in a statement that the government respects its 'hardworking' public service employees, and believes that agreements will be reached through the collective bargaining process. 'I am hopeful the parties will return to the table soon — it's best to keep the bargaining discussions at the table so the parties can focus on reaching a settlement.' The union says in a statement that its proposal issued last month asked for a two-year deal, with wage increase for workers at the lower end of the pay scale, targeted adjustments for certain jobs and bonuses into base salaries. He says the employers' last offer was a 1.5 per cent increase in the first year, and two per cent in the second year, which isn't 'acceptable,' not to mention that it refused to address key issues such as basic telework protections and removal of an 'outdated' public service job evaluation plan. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July. 18, 2025.
Global News
07-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
BC NDP take more heat from opposition over contracts for consultants, advisers
British Columbia's NDP government is taking more fire from the opposition BC Conservatives over contracts it has awarded to top advisers. The opposition is raising new questions after the province hired Dr. Tim Stainton's consultancy to review Community Living B.C. Stainton was one of the people who helped create the Crown corporation tasked with caring for some of B.C.'s most vulnerable people. CLBC's board is also chaired by former NDP cabinet minister Shane Simpson. 3:42 BC Conservatives question top mental health advisor's salary 'It seems that the NDP continues to go to the well with former ministers, former electeds. It makes you wonder how little confidence they have in their own current cabinet members when they have to do this,' BC Conservative finance critic Peter Milobar said. Story continues below advertisement 'And the bigger problem is the lack of transparency. Never a disclosure of how much they are getting paid, what the deliverable is expected.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The BC Conservatives are also flagging the appointment of former NDP environment minister George Heyman as a special advisor on public sector bargaining. Milobar noted that the province didn't announce the appointment — rather, it emerged when Heyman changed his LinkedIn profile. 'The former head of the (B.C. General Employees Union) BCGEU is now advising the government on how best to negotiate with the BCGEU, that's certainly going to work out well for the taxpayer, I am sure,' he said. The questions come as the province faces scrutiny over two other contracts. Premier David Eby terminated a contract with Michael Bryant halfway through its six-month term, saying media coverage had become a distraction from the work Bryant was meant to do advising on the future of the Downtown Eastside. 2:32 Decision to hire Downtown Eastside consultant under fire And on Thursday, the opposition raised concerns about a $1 million open-ended contract with Dr. Daniel Vigo, B.C.'s chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders. Story continues below advertisement Vigo has been instrumental in spearheading the NDP government's efforts at implementing involuntary treatment for people with severe mental health, addiction and brain injury issues. Health Minister Josie Osborne said Friday she believed Vigo's work is 'worth every penny.' 'Having an expert like Dr. Vigo come and provide advice to government and undertake a very methodical and studious examination of the data that is out there, looking with legal experts at the Mental Health Act … this is not something that can be replicated inside government,' she said. 'It is really important at this point in time that we have this expert advice. And the recommendations that Dr. Vigo and his team have put forward to government are actions we are already seeing underway.' As a part of Vigo's work, the province has now opened 28 beds in two involuntary care facilities, one at the South Fraser Pretrial Centre and one at the Alouette Homes in Maple Ridge, for people who are not in contact with the criminal justice system.
CBC
17-04-2025
- Health
- CBC
B.C. Health Coalition urges province to end contract with U.S. owner of LifeLabs
Social Sharing A public health advocacy group is urging the B.C. government to end its contract with the American company that owns LifeLabs, the province's main provider of outpatient lab services. The B.C. Health Coalition has issued an open letter asking Premier David Eby to follow through on a directive he issued last week for all government bodies to review their connections to U.S. firms amid the tariff dispute, and cancel its contract with Quest Diagnostics. The American firm acquired LifeLabs locations across Canada last year for $1.35 billion, and is now involved in a labour dispute with its B.C. workers, who are eight weeks into strike action. The 1,200 striking workers, who are members of the B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU), have been conducting rotating job action, temporarily closing labs on certain days. WATCH | Rotating strikes continue at LifeLabs in B.C.: Rotating strikes continue at LifeLabs in B.C. 4 days ago Duration 6:16 It's been over seven weeks since workers began job action against their employer LifeLabs, which provides diagnostic care under contract to the government. Union president Paul Finch said the company, whose ownership is based in America, should be reviewed as part of the B.C. government's directive to rip up contracts with U.S. companies. The B.C. Health Coalition, which has about 800,000 members, says laboratory services should be fully brought into the public system. It says doing so would reduce wait times, save public money and improve both working conditions and patient care. Coalition members and striking LifeLabs workers rallied outside the B.C. Legislature on Wednesday, calling on the province to take action. "There is no economic justification to allow a U.S. corporation to provide outpatient diagnostic services in the province," BCGEU president Paul Finch said in a statement earlier this week. "Workers and the public are already noticing a decline in services since Quest took over last year." A poll commissioned by the employees' union suggests 74 per cent of British Columbians oppose American companies running health services in the province. In a statement to CBC News, the Ministry of Health said the province is currently in a 10-year contract with LifeLabs, which runs through March 2031. "Cancelling the province's contract with LifeLabs right now would cause significant delays in basic lab testing and put patients at risk," the ministry said. "It would also cost hundreds of millions of dollars and take resources away from frontline services elsewhere." While LifeLabs is now owned by Quest, the ministry noted it remains a Canadian-incorporated company. It is responsible for more than two-thirds of outpatient lab tests in B.C. — about 42 million, annually. The province said it will ensure LifeLabs complies with all contract terms to maintain the quality, accessibility and cost of lab services.
CBC
31-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Negotiations between union, employer 'definitely not moving forward' in LifeLabs strike: BCGEU rep
Nearly six weeks after workers went on strike, negotiations between LifeLabs and the union that represents about 1,200 of its workers aren't going well, according to a member of the union's bargaining committee. Wendy Cummer, a medical laboratory technologist in Kamloops, B.C., and a B.C. General Employees Union (BCGEU) bargaining committee member said talks "are definitely not moving forward at this point." "The sides are very far apart," she said. "We can't go back to our members with an offer if it doesn't give them what they need." The strike began on Feb. 16, resulting in rotating closures at locations across the province and, in turn, forcing customers who need lab work to play a game of chance when they head to a LifeLabs location. BCGEU bargaining committee chair Mandy De Fields said negotiations for better wages and changes to working conditions began in March 2024. "It's been a long haul," she said. The BCGEU represents about 1,200 workers at LifeLabs across the province, the union said. Workers say they have been without a contract since April 1, 2024. The BCGEU said LifeLabs workers are paid four to 16 per cent less than counterparts at hospitals and other companies. For example, De Fields said, lab assistants, the public-facing staff who help with specimen collection, start at $4/hr less than people doing the same job in the hospital. In Kamloops, Cummer said, this means LifeLabs is often short-staffed after people leave for better paying jobs. "They need pay and working conditions that allow us to hire and retain qualified people, not hire someone and then lose them in a few months when they realize the stress of working short all the time." The union said people are skipping meal and washroom breaks and are working forced overtime as a result. In an emailed statement to CBC News, LifeLabs confirmed negotiations are ongoing but would not comment on the status of those conversations. The company did not answer questions about the impact to customers but instead pointed to their online " location finder" designed to let people know which locations are open during the strike. Last summer, LifeLabs was purchased by Quest Diagnostics, an American company, for approximately $1.35 billion Cdn. Cummer, who has worked at LifeLabs in Kamloops for 33 years, said customers are also feeling the consequences of staffing shortages with increased wait times, lineups for walk-in appointments and long waits to get results. "We are an essential service in British Columbia," she said. "We are fighting for ourselves and our patients."
