Public servants represented by the B.C. Government and Service Employees Union have voted 82 per cent in favour of job action, the union has just announced.

The BCGEU bargaining unit represents 25,000 workers in areas such as corrections, liquor stores and child protection.

The BCGEU has not gone on strike since 1988. The current contract expired March 31.

The union announced in March it was taking the strike vote after contract talks with the provincial government broke down.

"We're very happy our members have given us a strong strike mandate to take back to the bargaining table on May 23 in Vancouver," said BCGEU president Darryl Walker said in a statement on the union's website. "If the government doesn't move on its proposals, we'll be forced to consider job action."

Wages appear to be the main issue, with the union saying its members haven't had a general wage hike in three years.

BCGEU members work in:

- Corrections and sheriff services;

- Hospital and allied services;

- Retail liquor stores and warehouse operations;

- Social workers, child protection, probation services and systems analysis;

- Government administrative and support services;

- Environmental, technical and operational services.