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There Will Be Wage Increases says Provincial Finance Minister

By 250 News

Minister of Finance Carole Taylor , Deputy Premier and Minister of Education Shirley Bond, and MLA John Rustad hold a session with the media
following Taylor's address to the BC Natural Resource Forum Luncheon

Provincial Finance Minister Carole Taylor is developing her new budget, and setting aside some cash for contract negotiations "90% of the public sector  employees are up for contrat renewal this year" says Taylor  "I am not naive enough to think we will work out a deal with  all of them" adds the Finance Minister, but then , the Province is dangling a significant carrot.  "We have set aside a billion dollars and have told  any union that wants to settle before the end of March  that there are funds within that billion". Failure to settle  by the end of March will mean  any surplus dollars will be used to pay down the debt.  

She knows there is an expectation for higher wages, and agrees some will see an increase in their paycheque, but others may opt for a different route.  She says for example, "Some unions have identified that during times of cutbacks in the past,  they  lost  dollars that went towards training programs.  We may be able to  give them dollars for that."

Education Minister Shirley Bond notes this  idea is a "fresh approach that gives us more flexibility.  We know that in my  sector (education) the old way doesn't work, so lets try something  else."

Taylor made it clear, "There are going to be wage increases  in B.C." but she adds, the unions may  instead opt for dollars to improve benefits, or  working conditions.

Taylor will deliver her budget on the 21st of February.

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