A handful of pickets walked Battle Street on Tuesday, slowing business outside the ICBC claims centre.
About 45 unionized staff at the centre staged a one-day strike Tuesday, similar to a walkout earlier this month by thousands of provincial government employees.
“There’s a few people going in — not many,” said picket captain Marielle Coray.
There was only one vehicle visible in the parking lot at midday.
About 4,600 workers with Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union Local 378 have been without a contract for more than two years. Some of those walked out on the job, along with B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union workers, on Sept. 5.
On Tuesday, 1,600 workers at 22 B.C. claims centres walked off the job, including those in Kamloops.
The union said its workers have been without a pay increase since 2009 while at the same time, management received “staggering increases.” Rates paid to lawyers, doctors and body shops that the Crown corporation deals have also been increased.
The union has not been on strike since 1980.
Coray said reaction from drivers and passersby “has been supportive.
“One lady was supposed to do business here today. She said, ‘I’m not going to cross the picket line.’”
Union president David Black said government is also unfairly treating motorists in this province.
“Drivers are part of this picture. They’re the other group that’s being unfairly treated by having to accept rate hikes while government takes $1.2 billion of ICBC’s profits.”
