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ICBC union members vent frustration in strike vote

The union representing 4,600 Insurance Corporation of British Columbia workers say they have voted 87 per cent in favour of a strike.

The vote gives the employees' union, COPE 378, the go-ahead to initiate job action in the next three months if it sees fit. The move marks the latest escalation between the provincial auto-insurance provider and its unionized workers who have been without a collective bargaining agreement since June 2010.

"ICBC has dug their heels in and they want a five-year collective agreement with no increases to wages or benefits," said COPE 378 Vice-President Jeff Gillies, who added that the Crown corporation has so far refused to provide guarantees on job security and work load -- a primary concern for union members.

Despite worker grievances, however, Gillies said "we don't want drivers in the middle of the dispute... We want to take wise and cautious job action, and our interest is not to affect the customers at this point."

In response to the vote, a spokesperson for ICBC said the company has had several negotiations with the union and hopes for a settlement. But he also said the corporation has an obligation to ensure services for its customers, and has thus submitted an application to the B.C. Labour Relations Board to have certain workers deemed as providing essential services.

Under current provincial legislation, B.C. Crown corporations can appeal to have some job action named illegal if striking poses an "immediate and serious danger to the health, safety or welfare of the residents of British Columbia."

The company claims the essential services application was necessary to ensure ICBC could continue to provide income and disability payments, rehabilitation services, and license monitoring while a strike took place.

B.C. Finance Minister Kevin Falcon, responsible for ICBC, has been previously quoted by the CBC as saying the move was "a very responsible thing for the corporation to do."

But the application submission has also increased tension with COPE 378.

"It was a pretty heavy hammer to bring out in the beginning. We've never had an essential services application from ICBC," Gillies said. "The government appears to be setting the public up for a long, long strike while we wait for them to give ICBC a bargaining mandate," he added in a press release.

ICBC and COPE 378 will head back to the bargaining table on May 9 and 10.

Adam Pez is completing a practicum at The Tyee.

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