Union fights against BC government

The BC Government and Service Employees Union probably gave too much money to the NDP and too little to the Campbell government. VSA Highway Maintenance no doubt gave its donations to the Campbell people. No doubt it is part of the cushy contract with the government that VSA gets paid when there is a work stoppage of this type. Privatization of government services often involves attempts to increase profits by keeping down salaries or if possible doing away with the unions and contracting out to non-union employers.

B.C. union seeks to shut down government services
Last Updated: Saturday, July 7, 2007 | 3:13 PM PT
CBC News
B.C.'s striking highway workers are set to appeal to the Labour Relations Board to expand their job action and shut down all government services in the province.

About 400 highway workers, all members of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union, have been on strike or locked out since late April.

The union claims the government is an ally of contractor VSA Highway Maintenance. Union president George Heyman said the contractor continues to receive full payment from the government and that's hindering the union's efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement.

"Our members haven't seen a pay cheque in over two months, while the VSA continues to get paid in full by taxpayers," Heyman said.

For that reason, the union says it's applying to expand the job action to cover all government offices in four regions of the province — North Okanagan, Prince George, southern Vancouver Island and Kootenay Boundary.

The Labour Relations Board could hear the union's application as soon as Monday morning.