Burnaby (BCGEU Release) – The BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) has reached a tentative agreement with the provincial government, bringing an end to a historic strike that involved more than 25,000 public service workers and eight weeks of job action across British Columbia. The next step is ratification: all 34,000 members of the public service will now have the opportunity to review and vote on the four-year deal.
Next Steps:
- The BCGEU bargaining committee will recommend the agreement for ratification.
- BCGEU members will continue to respect PEA picket lines in solidarity with the striking members.
- Details of the agreement will be released following the completion of the ratification process.
BCGEU President Paul Finch says the deal reflects the determination, unity, and resilience of members who stood together to demand fairness and respect.
“This tentative agreement is the result of the incredible strength and solidarity of BCGEU and PEA members across the province,” said 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.”
The agreement was reached on the eighth day of mediation with the government, led by respected mediators Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers. The tentative agreement makes significant progress on key issues such as wages, affordability, and respect for frontline public service workers.
The tentative agreement makes significant progress on key issues such as wages, affordability, and respect for frontline public service workers.
Under the agreement, employees will receive a general wage increase of 3% per year for four years, along with additional targeted pay adjustments for the lowest paid workers in the public service to address the affordability crisis. It also includes a range of non-monetary improvements and enhanced benefits, including:
- 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.
While more details will be shared directly with members in the coming days, Finch said the deal represents meaningful movement toward closing the gap between public sector’s wages and the rising cost of living.
