Media Release: Government Licensed Professionals from the BC public service serve strike notice
August 17, 2022 (Victoria) – The Government Licensed Professionals (GLP) who work for the BC public service will be issuing 72-hour strike notice at noon today. The 1,200 licensed professionals include agrologists, engineers, foresters, geoscientists, pharmacists, psychologists, veterinarians and more. No details of the planned strike action are being released at this time.
The Professional Employees Association (PEA), the union representing the GLP, entered bargaining with the Public Service Agency on April 11, and quickly reached impasse on May 16 when wage proposals failed to address the rising cost of living. Government Licensed Professionals then voted 92% in favour of a strike in June.
“These licensed professionals rebuild bridges and roads, monitor BC’s forests and agriculture, and provide care to the province’s most vulnerable youth,” said Melissa Moroz, Labour Relations Officer with the PEA. “We need their expertise more than ever to help keep the province safe.”
The decision to take job action is not something these scientific experts take lightly. But rising inflation and higher wages in the private sector have made it increasingly challenging to keep professionals in the BC public service.
“It’s time for the BC government to invest in the workers who provide the services that the province relies on,” said Moroz. “These licensed professionals are taking job action because they want to see the cost of living addressed at the bargaining table.”
Learn more about the work of Government Licensed Professionals: www.glpbargaining.ca
Images for media use: click here to download via Dropbox
About the PEA
The Professional Employees Association is a labour union for professionals. Formed in 1974 to represent the Government Licensed Professionals employed in the BC public service, the union has grown to represent professionals in the education, legal, union and health care sectors.
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Media Contact:
Jordana Whetter, Senior Communications Officer
jwhetter@pea.org
Phone: 250-385-8791 ext. 210
