Members of the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union have ratified a new three-year deal with the provincial government.

It calls for a two percent annual wage increase over three years for 26,500 employees.

The public-service agreement includes additional funding "to help address staffing shortages with child protection social workers, deputy sheriffs and corrections officers to improve safety and security, as well as limit case delays", according to the province.

The agreement takes effect on April 1, 2019, which is when the current five-year agreement expires.

BCGEU staff voted 62.7 percent in favour.

The deal was reached under the government's new "Sustainable Services Negotiating Mandate", which calls for investments in sustainable economic growth.

"After 16 years of staff cuts and wage restraint, there was a lot of pent-up demand for positive change from our membership," BCGEU president Stephanie Smith said in a news release. "We knew that we wouldn't make up all the lost ground in one round of bargaining, but this agreement will provide a good foundation for us to build on." 

The agreement was reached without any work stoppages.