Affordability, access to health care and good jobs are the top issues the B.C. General Employees’ Union wants political parties to address during the provincial election campaign.
In a report card released Tuesday, the union outlined the priorities identified by its more than 100,000 members and the commitments it wants parties to make.
Housing and cost-of-living pressures ranked first, with 59.3 per cent of respondents selecting affordability as a top concern. Public health care came in second, followed by the economy and good jobs.
The BCGEU is asking all political parties to make specific, measurable and time-bound commitments in three key areas.
On affordability, the union wants plans to improve access to reliable housing and bring down food and energy costs so working people can afford to live in the communities they serve.
For public health care, it is calling for stable funding to help keep costs down for patients, along with more staffing resources directed toward frontline care rather than management.
The union also wants parties to protect frontline public-sector jobs and the public services communities rely on.
Beyond outlining their plans, the BCGEU said parties should explain how they intend to pay for each commitment and when British Columbians can expect to see results.
“We’ll be tracking the commitments made during this campaign and pressing whoever forms government to deliver for working people and our more than 100,000 members,” said BCGEU President Paul Finch.
The report card is intended to give voters a clearer picture of where the union believes parties should focus as they make their election commitments.
