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 ...