The legislature building in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, September 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

By The Canadian Press

B.C. reaches deal with professional employees in lengthy labour dispute

Mar 12, 2026 | 2:47 PM

VICTORIA — A tentative agreement has been reached with about 1,900 foresters, engineers, lawyers, geoscientists and other publicly employed professionals in British Columbia.

The Finance Ministry says in a statement the deal between the province’s Public Service Agency and the Professional Employees Association includes more funding aimed at improving the delivery of critical services.

The association says in its news release that the agreement will give its members a three per cent wage increase in each year of the four-year deal, along with employment security, enhanced health benefits and improvements to overtime pay.

It says members will hold a ratification vote on the agreement, which is being recommended by the bargaining committee.

The association joined other public workers in strike action last year during an eight-week long strike that also involved the B.C. General Employees’ Union.

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The association says the tentative agreement comes 10 months after bargaining began.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2026.

The Canadian Press