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As its strike rolled into the second week, the British Columbia Normal Staff’ Union escalated its job motion Monday with a non-emergency ban on extra time for public sector staff. The 2 sides seem far aside, with the federal government saying latest “exploratory talks” went nowhere.

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BCGEU president Stephanie Smith mentioned the ban on extra time underscores the B.C. Public Service Company’s strain on workers to work lengthy hours to make up for staffing shortages, a systemic subject the union is making an attempt to unravel by way of bargaining.

Smith mentioned B.C. Corrections officers are sometimes requested to do double shifts due to quick staffing. And court docket clerks and administrative staff are regularly working past their eight-hour shifts. The extra time ban excludes members of the B.C. Wildfire Service.

“There was 16 years of digging holes within the public service beneath the earlier authorities, hiring freezes, layoffs, vacancies going fully unfilled,” Smith mentioned. “And whereas we’ve grown the general public service it has not saved tempo with both workload or the inhabitants in our province.”

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Neither the federal government nor the union had figures on which public sector staff log probably the most extra time.

The BCGEU, which represents 33,000 provincial authorities staff, is in its second week of focused strike with 950 liquor distribution and wholesale staff picketing. Meaning no liquor or hashish merchandise are being distributed to B.C. companies which might trigger provide points for bars, eating places and hashish storefronts.

The Liquor Distribution Board on Friday introduced “modest” limitations on how a lot liquor clients can purchase at government-run retailers.

Smith hopes the escalated job motion will put strain on the federal government to return again to the negotiating desk with a greater supply.

“Our aim was to not escalate job motion,” she mentioned. “Our aim is to get a collective settlement that our members will vote for and that they deserve.”

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In an announcement, the Public Service Company (PSA) mentioned important service ranges might be maintained in key authorities areas to verify providers aren’t disrupted. The federal government mentioned the ball is now within the union’s court docket.

“Just lately, the events participated in exploratory talks,” a authorities spokesperson mentioned. “On the conclusion of these discussions, the BCGEU knowledgeable the PSA that it was not excited about resuming formal discussions right now.”

The BCGEU’s bargaining staff rejected the B.C. Public Service Company’s most up-to-date supply of a ten.99 per cent pay hike over three years plus a one per cent price of dwelling adjustment. Staff would additionally get a $2,500 signing bonus.

Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon mentioned final week that’s probably the most beneficiant supply in a minimum of 30 years. The federal government says the proposal is way more than what’s being supplied to public sector workers in Alberta and Ontario.

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Smith wouldn’t give specifics on what the union is asking for aside from stressing that members ought to get price of dwelling changes that replicate drastically elevated price of dwelling as a result of inflation.

One labour knowledgeable has mentioned he suspects the BCGEU might be making an attempt to match the deal given to Sea to Sky bus drivers in Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton, which secured a pay increase of 13.5 per cent over 5 years plus a signing bonus and a price of dwelling clause which provides staff a prime up if inflation exceeds the employees’ raises.

Smith, who can be chair of the union’s public service bargaining committee, wouldn’t touch upon that deal, saying every union should negotiate on their very own phrases.

The Skilled Staff Affiliation’s introduced a 72-hour strike discover at midday on Wednesday however the union has not but referred to as a strike. The PEA represents 1,200 licensed professionals embody agrologists, engineers, foresters, geoscientists, pharmacists, psychologists and veterinarians.

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Jordana Whetter, a spokesperson for the union, mentioned the affiliation is legally required to provide the employer 72 hours discover however can name a strike anytime after that interval. The union has not mentioned what sort of job motion it might take.

kderosa@postmedia.com

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