The union representing B.C.’s 33,000 government workers is targeting one of the biggest government revenue generators in its first strike action, taken Monday, August 15
The B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) waited until Monday morning to announce its first round of picket lines: provincial liquor and cannabis wholesale operations.
Picket lines are going up at B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) wholesale and distribution warehouses at 3:30 p.m. August 15 in Delta, Kamloops and Richmond and the Victoria wholesale customer centre.
While the wholesale customer centre and cannabis customer care centres are included in the job action, there will be no picket line.
“Retail liquor and cannabis stores will not be part of this phase of job action,” said the union’s news release.
Restaurants, bars and privately owned liquor stores are bracing for impact. Ian Tostenson of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association said he would be able to comment “once we understand the contingency LDB plan.”
The most-recent BCGEU contract expired April 1. Negotiations began February 8 but reached an impasse on April 6. Members voted 95 per cent to strike in a tally announced June 22.
There was no progress when the two sides met in July and an attempt to resurrect talks last week failed. The union had until Sept. 20 to serve strike notice.
The union rejected a nearly 11 per cent increase over three years plus up to $2,500 per member signing bonus offered by the government. Its key demand is for a cost-of-living adjustment clause to keep up with inflation. When talks began in February, inflation was 5.7 per cent. It hit a 40-year high of 8.1 per cent in May.
BCGEU is a fraction of the 400,000 public sector workers whose contracts have expired or will expire this year. The outcome of the BCGEU dispute is expected to influence all other contracts. Every 1 per cent increase in total compensation across B.C.’s public sector costs taxpayers $311 million.
