The B.C. Federation of Labour released a poll today showing the majority of B.C. residents support their job action.
The poll comes days before almost 30,000 BCGEU, PEA and COPE members plan to walk out for one day on Wednesday, September 5.
The one day strike will close public liquor stores and cause long lines at driver licensing offices, among other government places of business.
The poll shows that the majority of B.C. residents agree with the statement that public sector workers should at least get a cost of living increase without having to take cuts elsewhere in their collective agreement (38 per cent strongly agree, 36 per cent somewhat agree).
The majority of people also appear to back the public sector workers’ job action and one day strike. 28 per cent strongly agree, and 33 per cent somewhat agree.
A wide majority of British Columbians also supported an increase in corporate taxes to pay for a raise, and also there was wide support for a tax on high-income British Columbians.
The poll also didn’t hold much promise for Premier Christy Clark and her struggling Liberals.
If an election was held tomorrow, 25 per cent of people would vote for the Liberals, 45 per cent for the BC NDP led by Adrian Dix, and 19 per cent for the BC Conservatives led by John Cummins. 8 per cent of people said they would vote for Jane Sterk.
Get breaking National news
Full poll results below:
Times may be tough, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t treat public sector workers fairly. They should get at least a cost of living increase without having to take cuts elsewhere in their collective agreements.
Strongly agree 38.6 %
Somewhat agree 36.0 %
Somewhat disagree 17.9 %
Strongly disagree 7.5 %
Total 100.0 %
Public sector union leaders say that their members took no wage increase at all for the last two years. They say it’s fair and reasonable for their members to get at least a cost of living increase this time around, especially when senior managers and MLAs have been getting pay increases.
Strongly agree 45.5 %
Somewhat agree 34.8 %
Somewhat disagree 13.8 %
Strongly disagree 6.0 %
Total 100.0 %
Workers in B.C.’s public sector are justified in taking job action, including going on strike, if the B.C. government won’t offer at least a cost of living increase in their wages.
Strongly agree 28.6 %
Somewhat agree 33.6 %
Somewhat disagree 20.5 %
Strongly disagree 17.4 %
Total 100.0 %
If the B.C. government were to give B.C. public sector workers a raise, would you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose each of the following possible measures to pay for it…?
An increase in corporate taxes.
Strongly support 41.3 %
Somewhat support 38.1 %
Somewhat oppose 12.5 %
Strongly oppose 8.1 %
Total 100.0 %
A surtax on high-income British Columbians.
Strongly support 44.7 %
Somewhat support 35.4 %
Somewhat oppose 12.3 %
Strongly oppose 7.6 %
Total 100.0 %
If a B.C. provincial election were held tomorrow, which one of the following parties would you vote for in your constituency? (Factoring in leaners. Factoring out non-voters and totally undecided)
BC Liberals by Christy Clark 25.4 %
BC New Democrats (NDP) led by Adrian Dix 44.8 %
BC Conservatives led by John Cummins 19.8 %
BC Greens led by Jane Sterk 7.8 %
Other 2.2 %
Total 100.0 %
Many public sector unions are talking about going on strike this fall if they can’t reach a fair agreement with the government. What if Christy Clark negotiated an agreement with the unions to avoid any strikes and it included a wage increase of around 2.5% per year for two years and no benefit concessions? Would your opinion of Christy Clark…?
Go up a lot 8.1 %
Go up a little 23.3 %
Stay the same 56 %
Go down a little 6.7 %
Go down a lot 6.0 %
Total 100.0 %
The online survey of 854 British Columbians was conducted by Environics Research between Wednesday, August 29 and Friday, August 31, 2012.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.