Government employees await mediator in talks with province

The B.C. Government Employees Union is hoping to get dates set this week for a mediator to assist in negotiations with the provincial government.

On Friday, the union asked the B.C. Labor Relations Board to appoint the mediation. The request came after three days of bargaining in Victoria between the government and the BCGEU, which represents 65,000 workers.

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In May, 82 per cent of those workers voted in favour of strike action to back contract demands.

BCGEU president Darryl Walker was not optimistic about the situation.

“We’re still too far apart on the substantive issues,” said Walker in a release. “We’re applying for mediation in the hope we can narrow the differences and reach a fair and reasonable agreement.

“We’re not ready to walk away from the table yet,” he said. “We want to exhaust all options first. If mediation fails to produce a deal, we’ll be walking.”

Negotiations have been going on since January 1o. Key issues for the union are wage increases, job security and improved benefits.

All that seems at odds with the provincial government’s recent policy for ‘net zero’ settlements.