Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Almost all of British Columbia's licensed professional workers are going on strike after contract talks broke down this week.  A statement from the Professional Employees Association Wednesday said it was clear during talks one day earlier that the government wasn't prepared to improve its offer of a general wage increase of 3.5 per cent over a two-year agreement. The statement was mistakenly sent out early by a public relations firm, ahead of the official announcement of the "major escalation" in strike action at a news conference scheduled for Thursday ... CLICK HERE for the full story  

If Canada is serious about nation-building, it must accept a simple truth: private-sector unionized workers will build it. A wave of government-backed industrial projects is sweeping the country. Whether the priority is energy security, housing supply, trade diversification, or defence readiness, the goal is the same: build our domestic capacity, rebuild our supply chains, and reduce our exposure to global shocks. Because unions will be the ones driving these projects, their influence extends well beyond the job site. This is a story about political leverage, not just economic output. The power of unions lies not only in their members, but in public trust ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

Finance Minister Francois Philippe Champagne acknowledged Thursday that “adjustments” are coming to the public service as Ottawa looks to trim its spending in the fall budget. Champagne is in the Greater Toronto Area for the second day of meetings with Prime Minister Mark Carney and the rest of cabinet ahead of Parliament’s return in less than two weeks. Champagne told reporters Thursday morning he has received responses from his colleagues to his request earlier this summer for cuts of 15 per cent in day-to-day spending over the next three years. When asked whether the spending reduction plan might include public service layoffs, he said the government “will find adjustments" ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

The BC NDP government is facing the spectre of a late summer strike by the province’s largest public sector union, after negotiations crumbled. The BC General Employees’ Union says it will take a strike vote from its more than 34,000 members in mid-August, setting up the potential for job action by Labour Day. “We do not take that action lightly, but we did that after the employer, the government, failed to move meaningfully on the asks that were critically important to our members,” said BCGEU president Paul Finch. The BCGEU was the first union to start contract talks with government this year, and is the first to walk away from the table ... CLICK HERE for the full story