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VICTORIA - Amid all the hoopla surrounding the annual Labour Day Picnic, there is an underlying serious tone. The fun and games celebrating gains in workers' rights are about to fade and in their place, labour unrest over what unions see as a loss.

The MLA for Esquimalt -- Royal Roads believes the government has held public sector unions to low or zero increases for far too long.

"People are having a hard time paycheque to paycheque," says Maurine Karagianis, adding "It's going to be a rocky fall."

University of Victoria Support workers begin a series of rotating strikes this week as students return class. Without a contract since 2010, two CUPE locals are looking for more job security. The university says with budget pressures looming, it is not in the business of guaranteeing jobs.

And on Wednesday, members of the B.C. Government Employees Union walk off the job. The union plans to shut down government for the day in a move to get it back to the negotiating table

"The private sector is handing out three percent wage increases this year," BCGEU spokesperson, Michael Eso asserts. "That's all public sector workers are looking for -- what is fair."

The numbers didn't work out for teachers this year either. They will return to class on Tuesday with an imposed contract hanging over their head. While they are not planning any formal job action, many teachers could refuse to participate in extracurricular activities, for which they don't get paid.

The Greater Victoria Teachers Association maintains it is not encouraging its members to pull out of extracurricular work, but believes changes to teachers' contracts could result in changes.

"There are no limits to class sizes," Debra Swain explains "With teachers dealing with overloaded classrooms, they may be too tired and decide to focus on teaching instead."

For now the unions are taking an escalating approach to job action, preferring not to anger the public.

Instead they are biding their time and hoping that by next year's picnic a new government will be in place - giving them even more reason to celebrate.

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