Government Licensed Professionals Backgrounder
August 29, 2025: Government Licensed Professionals from the BC public service have voted to strike and have issued 72-hour strike notice.
The Professional Employees Association (PEA), the union representing Government Licensed Professionals (GLP), entered bargaining with the Public Service Agency (PSA) on May 27, 2025, but reached impasse on August 6, 2025.
On August 29, 2025, members voted in favour of a strike vote. The PEA is issuing 72-hour strike notice to the PSA and job action could occur as early as Tuesday, September 2.
Bargaining Demands
Government Licensed Professionals have voted to strike because of the following issues that have caused long-standing recruitment and retention issues in the public service:
- Competitive wages that reflect the value of the work of professionals.
- Full coverage of the professional fees that these workers are required to pay to their licensing body to do their public service job.
- Appropriate compensation for work completed during provincial emergencies.
Government Licensed Professionals
These workers are behind the policies, infrastructure, and services that touch every corner of the province. They are the engineers who ensure bridges and dams are structurally sound, the geoscientists who assess landslides and flood risks, and the psychologists who support vulnerable children and families. They guide land use, protect water and forests, regulate natural resource projects, and uphold public safety. Their expertise helps prevent costly failures, protects the public interest, and upholds the integrity of the province’s long-term investments.
More than 1,800 Government Licensed Professionals work for ministries and agencies across British Columbia, employed by the provincial government. These professionals include agrologists, engineers, foresters, geoscientists, lawyers, pharmacists, psychologists, veterinarians and other highly trained experts.
Quick facts:
- The Government Licensed Professionals 17th Main Public Service Agreement is negotiated between the provincial government, represented by the Public Service Agency. The PSA is the employer. PEA members are the only public service employees covered by this agreement.
- The 17th Main Agreement expired on March 31, 2025.
- The PEA was established in 1974 to represent Government Licensed Professionals in the BC Public Service but now also represents professionals across the public service, education, legal, union, and health care sectors.
For more information on Government Licensed Professionals: www.pea.org/bcexperts
Images for media use can be downloaded from Google Drive
Media Contact: Jordana Whetter, Communications Director
jwhetter@pea.org 250-385-8791 ext. 210
