The BC Greens have outlined their plan to support the province's workers and unions via greater protections, improved bargaining abilities, and minimum wage increases above the rate of inflation.
Leader Emily pointed out that many British Columbians working full-time jobs are still struggling to pay for the basics, noting that in Vancouver and Victoria, for example, the minimum wage is $9 below the "living wage."
She committed to raising the minimum wage by inflation plus 1% until it is on par with the living wage.
Lowan went on to suggest that "for too long, our government has taken workers for granted," citing the fact that the BC NDP oversaw the longest public sector strike and longest nursing strike in the province's history.
"When we sat across the table from the BC NDP to try and re-negotiate a deal, we posed a fundamental question: which side are you on?" she said. "That’s when we pushed for sectoral bargaining, a labour rights model developed by Vince Ready, the same labour mediator Eby has relied on to support his tense relationship with unions. When David Eby refused to support sectoral bargaining, we got our confirmation: he’s not on the side of the workers."
Lowan said she would push for a pilot of sectoral bargaining that would focus on workers who are least able to access collective bargaining, such as migrant care workers, retail and service workers, and fast-food and food service workers. She also committed to ensuring wealth from all public infrastructure projects "stays close to home" by making them Project Labour Agreements or Community Benefit Agreements.
Lowan also vowed to support those whose jobs have been put at risk by new technologies such as artificial intelligence, upgrade existing legislation regarding pay transparency to ensure everyone gets equal pay for equal work, and reverse the BC NDP's proposed beverage direct delivery policy to avoid privatization.
