Description: The B.C. government and the B.C. Government and Service Employees Union have reached a tentative agreement that includes cancelling plans to privatize the government’s liquor wholesaler.

Source: The Vancouver Sun

Date: 09/28/2012

Link: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Province+BCGEU+reach+tentative+deal+with+modest+wage+hike/7315593/story.html

Related links:

• Columnist says BCGEU agreement gives premier an opportunity to duck a scandal
• Earlier update
• BCGEU
• BCGEU collective agreements
• B.C. government – public sector bargaining

Questions for discussion:

• What are the main features of this agreement?
• Why does columnist Vaughn Palmer think the government agreed to drop its plans to privatize liquor distribution?
• How does the agreement’s wage increase fit with the government’s “cooperative gains mandate”?
• How does the situation in B.C. compare to public sector bargaining in Ontario?
• Pundits had written earlier that the B.C. government was planning a confrontation with the BCGEU for political purposes. Can you think of some reasons why that didn’t happen?