Full Breakdown
BCGEU Expands Strike Action at Liquor Stores
9/26/2025, 10:24:45 AM
Escalation of Job Action
The B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) has significantly escalated its strike action, expanding pickets to an additional 37 liquor stores across British Columbia, which now brings the total to 65 stores affected. This action has resulted in the closure of nearly one-third of government-run liquor stores in the province. The strike, which began four weeks ago, involves approximately 15,000 of the 34,000 public service workers represented by the union, including workers from liquor and cannabis distribution warehouses in Richmond, Delta, and Kamloops.
Union Demands and Government Response
The BCGEU is demanding an 8.25% wage increase over two years, citing that wages have not kept pace with inflation. Union President Paul Finch stated that the escalation of job action was necessitated by the government's refusal to return to the negotiating table. He emphasized the importance of public service workers in generating revenue for essential services such as healthcare and education, stating, “By withholding labour at liquor and cannabis warehouses and stores, we are reminding government that it’s public service workers who generate the revenue that funds healthcare, education and other community programs.”
B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey has acknowledged the ongoing dispute, indicating that there is some back-channel communication occurring, although no date for new negotiations has been set. She noted that some industry representatives have stockpiled liquor in anticipation of the strike's impact, understanding the importance of the liquor industry to the province's economy.
Impact on Local Businesses
The strike has raised concerns among local businesses, particularly in the restaurant sector. Ian Tostenson, President of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association, expressed that his members feel they are being used as "pawns" in the dispute, predicting supply shortages by the end of the week. He remarked, “What concerns us is that restaurants are having to shop around, going to different stores to try to find products. They can only buy three bottles of a product at a time. It’s really disruptive, and it’s no way to run a business.”
Public Sentiment and Future Actions
Public sentiment appears to lean in favor of the union, with Finch asserting that polls indicate greater public support for the workers' cause than for the government's position. He stated, “Certainly, polls show that twice as many people support our cause in the province as support the government.” The BCGEU has indicated that it will continue to escalate job actions until the provincial government meets its demands.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the BCGEU claims that around 15,000 workers are participating in the strike, some reports suggest that the number may vary, indicating discrepancies in the total count of workers involved. Additionally, the government has proposed a wage increase of 4.5% over two years, which the union has rejected as insufficient.
Verbatim Quotes
- “From the beginning of this job action, public service workers have done everything possible to focus pressure on government without disrupting the public. But government’s refusal to return to the bargaining table with a fair wage mandate has left us no choice but to escalate,” — Paul Finch, BCGEU President
- “We recognize this escalation will impact the restaurant industry and small businesses, who are being caught in the middle of this dispute.” — Paul Finch, BCGEU President
- “What concerns us is that restaurants are having to shop around, going to different stores to try to find products.” — Ian Tostenson, President of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association
- “The premier continues to attack affordability for workers as his government’s mismanagement is emptying shelves, undermining paycheques, and putting small businesses on the brink,” — Kiel Giddens, Conservative Labour Critic
The BCGEU's ongoing strike action continues to disrupt liquor supply and has significant implications for both public services and local businesses. The union remains firm in its demands, while the government seeks to navigate the complexities of the situation.
