The BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), representing around 34,000 public sector workers, voted to approve strike action on Friday, and one labour expert says the timing of this vote could heavily influence other negotiations going on across the province.
Fiona McQuarrie, professor emeritus at the University of the Fraser Valley, says the overwhelming support for the strike action — 86 per cent of all members voted, with 93 per cent of those voting in favour — carries a lot of weight.
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“I would say that gives the strike vote and the strike mandate an even stronger indication of support from the union if that many members felt this was important enough to turn out,” the expert said.
“I think that shows that the union and its members are pr