Master bargaining between the BC Government Employees' Union and the provincial government, which started this week, is progressing, according to the BCGEU.
"We're in the preliminary stage of negotiations. Already we've made progress on some minor items," said BCGEU president Darryl Walker in a news release.The union also tabled a proposal to increase government revenues by approximately $150 million per year by opening liquor stores on Sundays.
There are about 65,000 union members in the province, including more than 500 members of the union in the Comox Valley, according to the BCGEU.
About 85 per cent of BCGEU government contracts will expire during 2012.鈥∟egotiations resume in Victoria next Tuesday for three more days of bargaining. Dates have been set through to the end of March.
At the bargaining conference in December, members identified wage increases, job security and improved benefits as their main contract priorities.
"Since 2010, during the term of the current agreement, our members have suffered a real wage cut of five per cent. What we want is a fair and reasonable agreement for our members," said Walker.
