Media Release: Government Licensed Professionals from the BC public service put up picket lines
September 2, 2025 (Victoria) – Government Licensed Professionals, represented by the Professional Employees Association, will put up picket lines at targeted ministry locations across BC this morning alongside BCGEU members, who are also on strike.
Over 1,800 licensed professionals work across the province, including engineers, foresters, geoscientists, psychologists, and other specialized experts. This strike follows months of failed negotiations with the provincial government. The PEA entered bargaining with the Public Service Agency on May 27, 2025, but talks broke down after the government failed to address the union’s key issues, including wages, reimbursement of required licensing fees, and a commitment to reducing reliance on external contractors. On August 29, members voted in favour of a strike and issued 72-hour notice.
“These professionals do not take the decision to strike lightly,” said Melissa Moroz, Executive Director of the PEA and lead negotiator. “But when the BC government refuses to pay fair wages and continues to contract out the same work at a higher cost, they are sending a clear message about the priorities of this province. Contracting out doesn’t save money; it costs more. Instead of investing in a stable public service, the government is paying a premium for external contractors. It’s not just unfair to workers, it’s fiscally irresponsible.”
The Work at Stake
Government Licensed Professionals 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 their families. They guide land use, protect water and forests, regulate natural resource projects, and uphold public safety.
But public service wages have fallen so far behind that the government can’t recruit or retain the experts they need.
“Although a small, dedicated core team of public service engineers have stuck it out thanks to their passion for our work, the wage situation has created a revolving door,” said Trevor Demerse, a professional engineer in Victoria and PEA member. “These long -standing vacancies result in delayed reviews, stalled permits and slower projects.”
“Recruitment and retention continues to be a long-standing problem because our wages just aren’t competitive,” said Tyler Dergousoff, a professional forester in Prince George and PEA member. “As professionals, we play a vital role in managing and protecting the province’s natural resources and supporting sustainable development. When the government underpays and understaffs these critical roles, it puts our province’s economic and environmental future at risk.”
Picket Lines
The PEA and the BCGEU will be on the picket lines together, underscoring the solidarity between public sector workers. Both unions share pension and benefit plans, and what one union achieves at the bargaining table directly impacts the other.
“This fight is not ours alone,” Moroz said. “Today we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the BCGEU. Our coordinated picket lines show that our two unions are united and that it’s time for the government to invest in the public service.”
Picket lines for PEA members have been established at targeted government ministries across the province and no essential services will be disrupted. PEA members will be picketing in Surrey (10470 152 Street), Prince George (1011 4th Avenue) and Victoria (1810 Blanshard) beginning Tuesday, September 2 from 7 a.m.
Media Availability
Melissa Moroz, PEA Executive Director, will be available to media at the Victoria picket location (Jack Davis Building, 1820 Blanshard) on September 2 at 9:30 a.m. PDT. There are no media spokespeople at the Prince George or Surrey picket lines.
About the PEA
Established in 1974 to represent Government Licensed Professionals in the BC Public Service, the Professional Employees Association (PEA) is a labour union in British Columbia representing professionals across the public service, education, legal, union, and health care sectors. For more information on Government Licensed Professionals: www.pea.org/bcexperts and Government Licensed Professionals Backgrounder. Images for media use can be downloaded HERE.
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Media Contact: Jordana Whetter, Communications Director
jwhetter@pea.org 250-516-5552
