BCGEU Strike Escalates, Impacting Alcohol and Cannabis Distribution in British Columbia
Members of the B.C. General Employees Union (BCGEU) have intensified their strike action, now in its fourth week, by shutting down government warehouses, including alcohol and cannabis distribution centers. This escalation is expected to have an immediate impact on the hospitality industry.
Strike Action and Impact
Picket lines are now active at key B.C. liquor and cannabis distribution centers, effectively closing these facilities. While liquor and cannabis stores are not expected to experience immediate shortages, the hospitality industry is bracing for potential disruptions.
Ian Tostenson, CEO of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association, expressed concerns about the strike's potential impact. “It probably keeps the public away by thinking, ‘Oh, there’s a labour disruption,’” he said. He added that prolonged strike action could significantly hurt the industry's bottom line due to product shortages.
“Maybe they can’t go to my local restaurant and have what they want to have, so there is an effect there. (If) this goes on for a couple days, (it) will be fine. If it goes on for a week, it’s going to have impacts. It will hurt our bottom line, for sure, because we’ll run out of product to sell.” - Ian Tostenson, CEO of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association
Liquor Distribution Branch Response
The BC Liquor Distribution Branch has implemented quantity limits on all products, except for beer and Bordeaux wines, until normal operations resume. Hospitality and retail customers are limited to three items per SKU, per day, including refreshment beverage products in multi-packs.
Strike Details and Locations
According to the BCGEU, this is the longest public service strike in B.C.’s history. More than 12,500 public service workers are participating in job action at 63 sites across the province, including 33 active picket lines.
New sites joining strike action include:
- 1515 Blanshard, Victoria
- 3400 Davidson Ave, Victoria
- 818 Fort St, Victoria
- 940 Blanshard, Victoria
- 1150 McKenzie Ave, Victoria
- 102 Industrial Place, Penticton
- 205 Industrial Rd G, Cranbrook
- 1500 Woolridge, Coquitlam
- 727 Fisgard, Victoria
- 1801 Princeton-Kamloops Hwy, Kamloops
Wage Dispute
The union is seeking an 8.25 per cent pay hike. The province has offered a 4.5 per cent increase in wages and cost-of-living increases over two years. The BCGEU President Paul Finch stated that the escalation of strike action to liquor and cannabis warehouses was a last resort after the government refused to come back to the negotiating table.
The union began targeting liquor distribution earlier this month with an overtime ban. It also put workers in the mining sector on the picket lines last week, just as B.C. is moving to fast-track a number of projects.
Government Response
A spokesperson for B.C.'s Ministry of Finance provided its latest offer to the union. It states that compensation for BCGEU members rose by more than the average inflation rate during the last three years, with the last contract being hammered out in 2022.
“Our 2025 Balanced Measures Mandate for negotiations provides fair and reasonable compensation for unionized workers so we can afford the spending commitments that will improve the economic future for everyone,” the spokesperson said.
“The bargaining table is where the parties will work out agreements that are fair for workers and for all British Columbians.”
