MORE than 1,000 unionized workers were off the job at ICBC's head office in North Vancouver Wednesday as the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union staged a one-day walkout.

The striking North Vancouver employees represented about a quarter of the 4,600 union members who work for the insurance corporation.

Administration work deemed essential service continued behind pickets at the office.

The union staged the one-day strike to protest what they called the lack of progress on collective bargaining.

Jeff Gillies, vice-president of the union, said in its latest contract offer, the insurance corporation put forward a two per cent increase over a four-year deal. The union has asked for a cost-of-living increase in the first two years and a cost-of-living increase plus two per cent in both the third and fourth years.

Jane Seyd