Guest Opinion

B.C. Government Tries to Bargain with a "Magic Wallet," Union Says it's Empty

VICTORIA — Well, folks, it's happening again. The B.C. government and the BCGEU—that's the B.C. General Employees' Union, for you homeowners who only interact with public service workers when a pothole is miraculously filled—are at an impasse. It's a tale as old as time: one side has a list of demands, the other side has a list of excuses. And you, the taxpayer, get to be the unwilling audience for this riveting dinner theatre.

The government's position is simple, if not particularly creative: "We'd love to give you more money, but have you seen the provincial budget? It's tighter than a hipster's jeans." The BCGEU's response, which frankly, should have been accompanied by an exasperated sigh and a PowerPoint presentation, is: "You've got billions stashed in a contingency fund, a little thing you call a 'fiscal cushion.' We call it 'money you could use to pay us properly.'"

Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty, because a good political drama requires a little understanding of the characters.

The Public Service Worker: They're the ones who handle your social services, fight wildfires, staff your liquor stores (a crucial public service, let's be honest), and generally keep the gears of government from grinding to a halt. They're also the ones facing a serious affordability crisis. When a BCGEU member says they're worried about keeping their rental, it's not a negotiating tactic; it's a terrifying reality. They're essentially telling the government, "Help me afford to live in the province you run, so I can keep doing the job that helps you run the province." It's a beautifully circular argument that seems to be going right over Victoria's head.

The Government: Their bargaining strategy is a masterclass in bureaucratic doublespeak. They'll tell you they're being fiscally responsible while simultaneously hiring excluded, non-union managers at twice the rate of frontline workers. Think about that for a second. They're adding more chiefs and fewer people to actually do the work. It's a great way to create more bureaucracy and less service, which, when you think about it, is the most B.C. government move of all.

The Issues at Hand: It's not just about the money, though that's a big part of it. The union is asking for three things that are pretty fundamental:

Wages that keep up with inflation: A novel concept, I know. It's the grown-up version of "I want a living wage, not a starvation wage."

Fair access to telework: They've proven they can work from home, and for many, it's a way to save on gas and childcare in a province where both are prohibitively expensive. The government, however, seems to want them back in cubicles, possibly because they think a shared coffee pot is the key to a robust economy.

A modern contract: This is the polite way of saying, "Stop hiring managers like they're going out of style and give us the resources to do our jobs."

So, what's the likely impact of this delightful little dance? The BCGEU has a history of targeting specific services to create maximum disruption. The last time they did this, it was the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch, and suddenly every settler in the province was forced to buy a craft beer they didn't really want. This time, they could go after corrections, social services, or even wildfire response, which, given the state of our summers, would be a special kind of hell.

Of course, the government will respond with a mix of stern press conferences and "essential services" orders, which is basically them saying, "You can strike, but only if it doesn't inconvenience us or the public too much."

And what about you, the good people of British Columbia? You've already sided with the union, according to polls, which is a rare and beautiful thing. You've looked at the government's offer and said, "That's a pretty insulting pittance, even for a politician." But when the inconvenience of a strike hits—when your court date is postponed or your driver's license application takes a little longer—will your solidarity hold? Will you remember that the people serving you are just trying to make it, while the people in charge of the province are playing games with your tax dollars?

That, my friends, is the true test. Because the government is hoping you'll forget. And as we all know, a well-fed populace with a full liquor cabinet is a quiet populace.

  • Guest Contributor