The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) is recommending its members accept a tentative agreement reached with the province. The contract provides employment security, protection from privatization and contracting out, and wage increases, according to a BCGEU release."This is a tentative agreement that meets the key priorities set by our members, an agreement that we can be proud of," said BCGEU president George Heyman. "The union's bargaining committee is unanimously recommending acceptance to our members."The contract includes an average wage increase of 10 per cent over four years and at least a $4,000 signing bonus as part of the provincial government's $1 billion signing bonus for unions reaching an agreement before their contracts' expiry. In addition, it includes improvements to health and welfare benefits, premiums, allowances to rights of casual workers and additional wage increases in some positions. "Recognizing our employees' contributions to government and striving to provide the best services for taxpayers' dollars are key goals that have clearly bridged the parties at the bargaining table," said Finance Minister Carole Taylor in a news release.Members will vote on the contract's ratification over the next few weeks. The almost 100 BCGEU members on the Sunshine Coast include workers in forest management, highways, court services, government agent, child protection, parks, liquor stores and other government offices, according to BCGEU spokeswoman Carol Adams.Last week, backed by an 80 per cent strike mandate if an agreement was not reached by March 31, the union walked away from the bargaining table due to its demands not being met in negotiations. "We told the government's negotiators very clearly that in addition to fair, ongoing wage increases, any deal had to include protections for workers from privatization and contracting out," Heyman said. "When they failed to move on this and other key issues, we stepped away from the table to reinforce how important these were for our members."The two parties returned to the bargaining table Friday (March 17) and an agreement was reached Sunday."This is the 13th agreement signed this month and it covers almost 24,500 public sector employees," Taylor said. "I want to recognize the negotiators on both sides of the table for their many hours of deliberation, tough negotiation and creative dialogue, which has lead to this milestone agreement."This month, the province has reached agreements with BC Hydro (Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers), SFU, UNBC and UVIC faculty associations, BC Transit (COPE), BC Medical Association, BC Assessment Authority (Canadian Union of Public Employees), Health Employers Association of BC, Paramedical Professional Bargaining Association and Facilities Bargaining Association (Hospital Employees' Union), UBC International Union of Operating Engineers and UBC Association of Administrative and Professional staff, according to a ministry backgrounder.
