BCGEU reaches tentative contract with B.C. government

B.C. Premier Christy Clark surprised delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities conventionconvention Fridaywith several major election-style announcements during her speech, including acontract deal with the province's biggest public employees' union.

Clark announced a tentative contract with the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union in her addressto the 1,500 delegates gathered in Victoria for the annual UBCM meeting.

After Clark's speech, BCGEU president Darryl Walker confirmed the tentative deal gives the 26,000 government workers a four-per-cent wage increase over two years.

The wage increase was funded from savings found within existing budgets, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance during Clark's speech.

As part of the agreement, the statement saidthe government's proposal to privatize liquor distributionhad beencancelled.

New Massey Tunnel and Trans Canada upgrade

During her speech Clarkmade several election-style promises, including plans to:

• Replace the George Massey Tunnel under the Fraser River between Richmond and Delta, south of Vancouver, within the next 10 years.
• Spend ahalf-billion dollars toupgrade the Trans-Canada Highway to four lanes the entire distance from Kamloops to the Alberta border.
• Spend $207 millionontransportation, housing, road,health and school projects across B.C.

Clark also told the convention she would be meeting with Alberta Premier Alison Redford to discuss her concerns with the Northern Gateway Pipeline project next week, but that no amount of money can make up for an unacceptable environmental risk.

On Thursday conventiondelegatesnarrowly passed a controversial resolutionrejecting the expansion of oil tanker traffic through B.C. coastal waters.

Clarkwrapped up her speechby-reaffirming her government's commitment to the province's balanced budget legislation, an apparent jab at NDP leader Adrian Dix whosaid yesterday he would likely repeal the legislationif he wins the upcoming May provincial election.