Ken Chalmbers from the Professional Employee Association (PEA) on strike with members (Byron Georz and Aaron Bergeron) of B.C. government Employees’ Union (BCGEU) in refusal of government offer of a 3.5 per cent wage increase over two years.
Unions are seeking a 3.5 per cent increase over first year with a cost of living increase in the second year.
BCGEU say they have had no pay raise in three years and are steadily losing ground due to inflation.
PEA contents their main issue remains governments marginalization of professional practice in the public service, citing a study by a world renowned compensation company showing that PEA lags behind other comparable pubic sector and private sector professional jobs by between 9 and 43 per cent, depending on profession.
