The licensed public service professionals of the BC government voted 92% in favor of the strike after reaching a negotiating deadlock, the Professional Employees Union (PEA) said on June 22. The PEA represents more than 1,200 licensed professionals such as geologists, engineers, foresters, geoscientists, pharmacists, psychologists and veterinarians working in 11 ministries. The union said wage bids failed to address rising living costs. He said failure to remain competitive could lead to recruitment and retention problems. “Our members are the scientific experts we rely on to keep the province safe and they deserve salaries that reflect the critical work they are doing,” PEA spokeswoman Melissa Moroz said in a statement. “This result of the strike shows that these professionals are willing to take action to support their claims for reasonable compensation,” he said. “They are not willing to cut wages.” The union represents employees overseeing forestry, mining, fossil fuels, infrastructure, forests and farms. They have also been called in as part of the government’s response to the fires and floods. “With climate change and emergencies an ever-present reality, now is the time for the province to invest in public sector professionals,” Moroz said. Meanwhile, the BC General Staff said Wednesday that nearly 95 percent of its 33,000 members of the public service had approved the strike. “I could not be happier with this powerful result,” said Stephanie Smith, president of the BCGEU and chair of the union’s negotiating committee. “But it was the lead – the five weeks of intensive organization, emerging voting sites and the collection of ballot papers by mail – that really forced the public service organization to change its pace.” The BCGEU says that as the strike vote ended, their employer called on them to return to the negotiating table. Negotiations will resume on Monday. Members of the BCGEU strike include firefighters, social workers, sheriffs and penitentiaries, administrative staff, store and warehouse staff at BC Liquor and Cannabis, as well as conservation officers, field and lab workers and many other.
