Broad-Based Bargaining: Addressing Inequality in B.C.’s Labour Market
Progress on broad-based bargaining
In recent years, the B.C. NDP government has made notable strides in modernizing the province’s labour laws to improve access to collective bargaining. Sectoral and multi-employer bargaining frameworks have long been supported in public sector industries, including education and healthcare, as well as for specific sectors such as construction and fisheries. These models have proven effective at enhancing workers' negotiating power, resulting in better wages, benefits, and working conditions for many. Despite these successes, broad-based bargaining remains largely absent from the private sector, where it is urgently needed.
Ongoing challenges
B.C.’s private sector workers—particularly those in industries defined by precarious work, like retail and hospitality—continue to face significant barriers to unionization. With fragmented workplaces, low union density, and non-standard employment relationships, the existing Labour Relations Code has not kept pace with changes in the economy. One-third of the 1.5 million private-sector workers in B.C. without union representation are employed in retail and hospitality, two sectors where low wages and difficult working conditions persist. Legislative change is needed to expand access to collective bargaining for these workers.
Nobody can afford John Rustad’s B.C.
While the NDP has pushed forward policies that empower workers, the B.C. Conservatives have historically opposed reforms aimed at expanding collective bargaining rights. They have consistently favoured policies that prioritize corporate interests over worker protections. This resistance risks deepening labour market inequities by leaving workers in the private sector without the tools needed to negotiate fair wages and benefits. Supporting the NDP ensures that the province’s labour laws continue to evolve in favour of workers rather than regressing to a system that entrenches inequality.
Take action
The path forward is clear. The NDP must build on its existing achievements by introducing legislation that facilitates broad-based collective bargaining for private-sector workers. A legal framework that allows for multi-employer bargaining units will empower workers in low-union-density and difficult-to-organize sectors, giving them the collective strength needed to secure fair pay and working conditions. By supporting the NDP, British Columbians can help close the gap between public and private sector workers, ensuring all workers have the opportunity to engage in meaningful collective bargaining.
