Much like the windstorms that have battered the Capital Region this week, a storm is brewing for the provincial government.
As the B.C. Liberals moved to quash the teachersB次元官网网址� strike by passing Bill 22, amid scattered calls by the B.C. TeachersB次元官网网址� Federation to work bell-to-bell only, other unions are lining up to take their shot at the government in the days before their contracts expire.
The B.C. NursesB次元官网网址� Union and a majority of workers represented by the B.C. Government and Service EmployeesB次元官网网址� Union B次元官网网址� totalling more than 50,000 individuals B次元官网网址� have deals that end March 31.
The nurses want 2,000 more nurses hired in the province to ease workload issues they say are threatening public safety. The lack of investment by government in their workplaces, they say, is leading to professional burnout. The BCGEU wants pay increases after almost three years without.
As with the teachersB次元官网网址� dispute B次元官网网址� which became more about working conditions than pay increases when the BCTF recognized B次元官网网址榥et zeroB次元官网网址� meant B次元官网网址榥et zeroB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� the struggles to create B次元官网网址渇airB次元官网网址� agreements are ongoing as the province moves through a difficult economic time.
Of course, everyoneB次元官网网址檚 definition of fair is a little different.
The current government, starting in its earliest days in power, slashed programs and funding in its efforts to balance the provinceB次元官网网址檚 books. It has restored a certain level of funding to areas cut, but slammed the door on labour spending when the global economic downturn hit.
Now, with the economy still limping along, the government must consider if it is more palatable to endure an increasingly disgruntled work force while keeping the provinceB次元官网网址檚 finances from spiralling out of control, or throw unions a financial bone B次元官网网址� in the form of modest wage or benefit increases, smaller class sizes or the hiring of additional staff to ease workloads.
How long do we cling to the concept of short-term pain for long-term gain?
That is the biggest question the provincial government must answer as it wades deep into this spring of discontent.
