Three unions will hold a one-day strike on Wednesday, saying they are looking for a “fair and reasonable agreement” and that they have “suffered a real wage cut of five per cent.”

Three unions, BCGEU, Professional Employees Association, and Canadian Office Professional Employees, local 378, are included in the strike mandate.

“We’ve not taken the decision to strike lightly. Our last strike in direct government was over 20 years ago,” said BCGEU president Darryl Walker.

In Maple Ridge, there will be picket lines at Service BC, and there will be limited service at the office. Government liquor stores will be picketed and closed.

Across the province, approximately 27,000 BCGEU, PEA and COPE 378 members who work for the B.C. government will go on strike in 153 communities and 1,785 government work sites. The strike will last all day.

“Our professional members have in almost all cases chosen public service because of their commitment to serving the public,” said Scott McCannell, PEA executive director. “Without some protections to stop a clear trend of downsizing licensed professionals in the public service, the public interest will not be served. Our members will be taking job action for the first time in their 38-year history to send a message to the government that this issue needs to be addressed and that we need a fair settlement.”

“We’ve exhausted our other options with ICBC and the provincial government,” said COPE 378 president David Black. “Our members have spent over two years without a collective agreement doing more work for less pay.”

Essential service levels are guaranteed.