Originally Posted by Altaflyer
Okay, I admit I do not know the details of what the BC government did but did it not just roll back salaries for people who are under a valid and subsisting contract? Or perhaps the contract was up and they were in negotiations. Certainly if it was the former then they should walk and stay out until the BC gov realizes that such tactics are inappropriate. What does it say to others that may contract with the government? Again, if specialized employees such as nurses are affected then surely the government must recognize that soon they will have far fewer nurses and Alberta will have an ample supply -no?
I'm also unsure of the contract status of these people, but the government imposed an 11% pay cut on them, retroactive to April 1. The media is reporting that they will still remain the highest paid workers of their type in Canada, so the government's point of view is that they were already being drastically overpaid for what they do.
The employees in question are health supprot staff - the people who cook the food and do the laundry in hospitals, long term care facilities. Having been forced to eat hospital food recently, I would be happy to see them all fired, but I recognize that is too politically difficult, even for the Liberals.
It all seems a bit draconian to me, and as a newcomer to BC it's quite interesting to witness people's reaction to it.