We’re ready to negotiate—but the government’s refusing to bring a fair wage offer to the table. Their delay is hurting workers, families, and communities across B.C.
To break the deadlock, we need to turn up the pressure on individual NDP MLAs in their own ridings. The first step is to get thousands of signatures on an open letter. The letter below was written by striking members and now we’re asking public service members to add their names. If we can get thousands of signatures, we’ll hand deliver it to MLA offices across the province starting next week at public actions in front of local media. Will you add your name today?
OPEN LETTER
Dear MLA,
We are writing today not just as members of the B.C. public service and the BCGEU, but as constituents, deeply committed to the prosperity of this province and helping communities rise above today’s toughest economic, social, and ecological emergencies. We’re passionate about our work, but it’s hard for us to trust that our elected leaders share in our drive when you ask frontline staff to do more with less and expect B.C. residents to accept service cuts when they need the support the most.
This approach is unsustainable, irresponsible, and out of touch with the people of this province. Our jobs bring us into direct contact with the lands you steward, the partners you value, and the constituents whose vote you count on every election. We know exactly who will pay the price if the province doesn’t provide an inflation-fighting contract that can attract and retain the dedicated workers needed to provide consistent, quality services.
As frontline workers, we run towards the fire with a hose when the government promises health and safety protection. We connect the caller to the nurse. We stay with the client through the crisis. We’re the ones at the cash register, generating the revenue to keep this province running, and issuing the permit to build the bridge and jumpstart the resource project. We make industries and businesses functional, so we know that unsustainable working conditions for us will only lead to worse outcomes for the broader economy.
Your staff have the skills and passion to succeed anywhere, but they’ve chosen to serve the public, often at a personal cost. Many of us, for instance, cannot afford to live in the very communities we support and even work second and third jobs just to care for our families. We do this work because we know our neighbours need knowledgeable, caring, and dedicated professionals, but there’s only so far good people can be pushed.
When one of us is forced to leave the public service, we don’t just lose an individual worker; we lose vital knowledge and supports for our people, our environment, and everything we hold dear. More than half of us have considered leaving the public service for a more lucrative career, and turnover is already causing us to lose invaluable talent and institutional knowledge at an alarming rate. If we are to ensure B.C.’s long-term resilience, our wages must reflect what's at stake and give everyone hope for a better future. Instead of weaponizing the affordability crisis against us, government needs to fix it. Instead of pouring money into costly private contracts and ever-growing management, B.C.’s leaders should be ensuring residents can afford food, medicine and shelter.
A fair wage increase for public service workers is not just about keeping pace with the rising cost of living; it is an investment in people who add to B.C.’s vibrancy. Beyond our professions, we’re threads in a rich social tapestry. When we’re forced to leave a city because we can’t afford the rental market, a bookclub loses a member, an activist group loses a voice, and a whole family is uprooted. On the flip side, when we can afford to stay in our chosen homes, we can afford to shop local, our partners can bring their skills to local private-sector industries, and we remain active members of our community. The cascading effect is extraordinary, which is why we reject any attempt by government to frame investment in the public service as a win-lose for our private-sector siblings. Underpaying a court worker won’t re-open the local pulp mill; however, investing in the frontlines of the public service will buoy local economies through the storm of the tariff wars.
As people of B.C., we expect our tax dollars to be invested responsibly – into services that can keep the province resilient in volatile times. Right now, we’re not getting what we pay for because the frontlines are skeletal and shouldering too much. It’s unacceptable that the government refuses to come to the table with a competitive contract that could solve this problem. From families and businesses to community organizations and vulnerable populations, British Columbians are hurting from the government's failure to resolve this dispute.
Striking was not an easy decision. We did it to defend the level of public services your constituents depend on, and to stand up for the fair and respectful workplace we deserve.
Our ask
If you believe in strong public services and workers’ rights, we’re asking you to stand up for local public service workers. Speak to the Premier and Finance Minister as soon as possible. Urge them to put forward a fair deal that ends the strike and keeps our communities strong.
As you know, we are also voters. We cannot in good conscience vote for a party that would undervalue our work and balance the provincial budget on the backs of working people. There is still time to change course and do good by the working people you represent. Working on the frontlines gives us a vantage point; we want to share it with you to bring your goals back into focus.
Sincerely,
B.C.'s Public Service Workers
