The government of British Columbia needs to ensure ALL workers share in the wealth and prosperity that is available -- or at least should be available

The taxpayers of British Columbia (you and I) are ultimately accountable for the costs of bargaining contracts with unions representing employees of the government.

There are currently over 430,000* British Columbian’s, or just under 11% of the province’s adult population, working in the core public service, at Crown corporations and agencies, in health and community social services, K-12 public education, post-secondary, and research universities.  Of those people, more than 330,000 are unionized employees – they receive approximately $30.4 billion in compensation -- more than half the provincial budget. 

It should be noted that a 2% wage increase per year -- for all employees including unionized, non-union, and management employees -- costs taxpayers just under two thirds of a billion dollars (approximately $608 million)

Since February three year agreements, based on two percent increases each year, have been negotiated with:

The Facilities Bargaining Association (FBA), representing approximately 42,000 people delivering health services throughout British Columbia ... along with the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA), representing approximately 18,000 health science professionals.

The Professional Employees Association (PEA), representing members in B.C.’s public service and the University of Victoria, ratified agreements covering approximately 1,200 people working as foresters, engineers, agrologists, geoscientists, psychologists and others in B.C.’s public service.

WorkSafeBC and members of the Compensation Employees’ Union (CEU), representing almost 2,600 employees ... along with approximately 700 BC Assessment and employees represented by CUPE Local 1767 ratified new agreements

The University of British Columbia (UBC) and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 have reached agreement covering about 60 employees working at UBC as maintenance and operating engineers.

Members of the Resident Doctors of BC (RDBC) and the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) have ratified an agreement – the RDBC represents nearly 1,350 resident doctors working for publicly funded health-care employers in B.C.’s hospitals and public health facilities.

CUPE, BCGEU K-12 support staff agreements were negotiated with SD 20 (Kootenay-Columbia) representing 224 members ... the SD 81 (Fort Nelson) representing 56 members ... SD 70 (Alberni) representing 221 members ... School District No. 45 (West Vancouver) covering 450 members ... SD 6 (Rocky Mountain) representing 254 employees ... SD 10 (Arrow Lakes) representing 49 employees ... SD 19 (Revelstoke) representing 67 employees ... SD 36 (Surrey) representing 3,824 employees, ... and SD 39 (Vancouver) representing 1,571 employees

Five agreements have been ratified by local BCGEU unions ... Northern Lights College and Local 710, representing 199 members ... Camosun College and Local 701, representing 164 members ... Coast Mountain College and Local 712, representing 155 members ... Selkirk College and Local 709, representing 138 members ... and Okanagan College and Local 707, representing 349 members

The University of British Columbia (UBC) and CUPE Local 116 have ratified an agreement -- Local 116 represents nearly 2,300 employees.  UBC Okanagan

and approximately 650 employees at UBC’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna

The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) and CUPE Local 3799, representing approximately 400 UNBC employees, have ratified an agreement

AND ... the University of Victoria’s Board of Governors and the University of Victoria Faculty Association have ratified an agreement for the approximately 900** research and teaching faculty members, as well as librarians.

Between now, and the 42^nd annual General Election in British Columbia, which will be held in approximately 26^th months (October 16^th, 2021), many more of these 3-year agreements – with expected 2% increases each year, should be the norm given the current pattern.

When asked, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Finance indicated that collective bargaining remains in progress (nearly 70% complete) and changes to public service delivery are ongoing (i.e. volume growth/increased services).

So, there are still approximately 30% of contracts to be negotiated – and then all 100% will of course come up for renewal during the mandate of a new government, to be elected in 2021. 

One would have to believe that if it is an NDP majority, or NDP / Green Party coalition, there will be a much easier and conciliatory process that could very well see further contracts with increases of 2% per year negotiated.

If not an NDP, or NDP / Green government, whoever is elected could very well find it hard to try and keep a lid on wage increases for government employees ... and here’s why.

As I mentioned early on in this piece ... those 2% yearly increases in wages are equivalent to $608 million – but it’s more than that.

While comment from the Labour Ministry indicated it was for ‘illustrative purposes’ my question as to the compounding of the wage increases was indeed correct.

“Yes, it would be appropriate to compound the general wage increases when developing a general estimate of negotiated wage increases.  Actual costs will vary as collective agreements apply only to the unionized sector.”

Therefore $608 million for year number one, becomes $620 million during year number two, which becomes $632 million on the third year.  AND THEN, a new contract adds additional wage increases compounding the amount even higher.

Should BC government employees be receiving that kind of increase.  I’m not going to say Yes or No ... and let me state unequivocally that I believe that just like in any other workplace, most government employees work hard providing services to us.

What I will say however is that Stats Can indicates the average hourly wage for adults 25 to 54 is $26.92 per hour – it then goes on to list wages paid to workers in various sectors of the economy

When I look at Salary Grids for government employees there is a total of 35 pay Grids for BCGEU employees starting with G1 which pays $31,729 per year ... all the way up to Grid Level 33 which in and of itself has 5 pay steps.  The first is $83,716 ... and then working up to Step 5 it sees an annual salary of $95,865.

In addition, unlike many private sector employees not coverage with union contracts, government bargaining unit employees in the Public Sector are covered by are covered by an extensive benefits program that is quite generous.  This holds true as well for government employees who are also eligible for a lifetime monthly pension.

And then there are the employees you see working in your local mall(s), or stores downtown in your community – many of whom do not receive these kinds of benefits (if any at all), and most make minimum, or slightly over minimum wages, working less than 40 hours per week for the most part.

IF a retail employee is managing to get 40 hours per week, at the $13.85 / hour minimum wage, that works out to $554 / week – half of what Welcome BC states is the average BC weekly salary ($1,054)

The government of British Columbia needs to ensure that ALL workers in BC share in the wealth and prosperity that is available -- or at least should be available.

Government needs to be pro-active in supporting wealth generating projects that will see more and more workers employed -- the men and women that are generally part of BC's unionized workers segment.

Good jobs -- and more of them -- means that more and more individuals get hired for new retail businesses, high tech support people, and the companies that supply the resource industries.

Good money for all ... good jobs for all that want them ... and a environment that the workers of BC can get out and enjoy that isn't overprotected to the point of shutdowns of industry .... that needs to be the motto of government in BC.

It hasn’t been for the past two years with John Horgan being cheered on by George Heyman (Environment Minister) and Andrew Weaver (Green Party Leader) --- there’s still time for that to change though.

If not, well we’ll see what happens in 2021 when ballots are counted across the province.

*adult population of BC (over 19 year) is approximately 4 million – the total population is approximately 4.9 million people

** 1.75% for each of year one and two -- 2% for year 3