British Columbia’s premier says it’s been a frustrating time for residents as a public service workers dispute drags into its seventh week, but he appreciates their patience.
David Eby says the government is working closely to ensure a fair offer is being made to members of the BC General Employees’ Union, and the government is hoping to get back to the bargaining table as soon as possible.
Finance Minister Brenda Bailey, who speaks for the government in the dispute, said in a video statement over the weekend that the government can’t agree to a deal that makes service delivery too expensive to maintain.
About 25,000 union members are off the job across 20 ministries, Crown corporations, and agencies.
Eby says once the strike is over, the supply challenges that the restaurant industry, and liquor and cannabis retailers face will be resolved soon.
Paul Finch, president of the BCGEU, says there has been no indication from the provincial government that it will come back to the table with a fair offer.
Finch says the union will let the impact of the strike sink in for now, but it is hoping to see the government come to the table with a reasonable offer.
The union said earlier that it countered the government’s offer of a five per cent wage increase over two years with a request for eight per cent over the same period.
