BCGEU Strike Update
A Message from ABLE BC’s Executive Director Jeff Guignard
“This is hurting us.”
That’s the message I carried to media, government, and the BCGEU this week in an open letter signed by 19 of BC’s largest liquor, hospitality, cannabis, tourism, and business associations.
Here’s a clip of me making that point on CTV News yesterday morning:
While this labour dispute is between the BCGEU and the BC Government, after two long weeks without products flowing from the Liquor Distribution Branch’s vital liquor and cannabis warehouses, your hospitality, liquor, and cannabis retail businesses are bearing the brunt of the impacts.
Our message is simple: while the BCGEU has the right to strike, they do not have the right to disrupt a $15 billion industry of 10,000 small businesses and 200,000 workers.
The only good news is that both sides are back at the negotiation table. We’ve called for the BCGEU to pause strike action during negotiations as a sign of good faith; so far, our appeals have fallen on deaf ears.
The strike needs to end now before the damage gets worse.
Thank you to the nearly 400 businesses who have already completed our survey on how this irresponsible strike is impacting you. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to complete it now. Preliminary results show that our entire industry is seeing stock outs, declining revenue, and the start of staff layoffs.
80 per cent of you are worried about the viability of your business because of the strike.
We’ve sent our open letter to every Minister and MLA in the province, demanding they work to end this strike now. We’ve been in regular meetings with government, including with LDB Wholesale, working to ensure your businesses are front-of-the-line when deliveries start flowing again.
I know you’re hurting. I know you’re frustrated that, after two years of COVID restrictions and business disruptions, our industry is back on the ropes. We will continue to do everything we can to keep up the pressure publicly and behind the scenes on your behalf.
ABLE BC’s Board of Directors held another emergency meeting this morning to discuss our next tactics. We’ll be back in touch next week with details of our next steps.
In the meantime, you can always reach me directly at jeff@ablebc.ca.
Seaspan Tugboat Workers Strike Will Not Affect BDL Deliveries to Vancouver Island
Yesterday, the Canadian Merchant Service Guild announced it would begin strike action, with members obliged to refuse work on all 30 of Seaspan’s tugboats in BC.
We have reached out to VanKam and have been assured that this strike action will not affect BDL deliveries to Vancouver Island.
A Message from Pacific Coast Distribution LTD.
In last week’s Industry Update newsletter we reported that the BCGEU had inaccurately alleged that the LDB had “stockpiled product through a third party, Pacific Coast Distribution Ltd.” This was not true and we confirmed directly with government, the LDB, and Pacific Coast Distribution that they do not have any cannabis or liquor products stored at any of their facilities.
We are pleased to let you know that the Labour Relations Board has dismissed these false allegations from the BCGEU.
Please read this statement from Pacific Coast Distribution:
“We are very pleased to announce that on August 25th, the British Columbia Labour Relations Board dismissed the application brought forth by the BCGEU! We have been vindicated legally, but now have to fight to clear our name in public perception.
On August 17th, the BCGEU baselessly accused Pacific Coast Distribution Ltd. of working in concert with the BCLDB to stockpile and distribute liquor products after the strike action commenced on August 15th. The BCGEU’s media release led to negative press on Global News and subsequent union harassment of our staff via attacks on telephone, email, and social media, as well as our drivers being followed.
We ask the BCGEU to publish a retraction of their original statements and set the record straight for their members and other Unions across the Province. We respect the rights of the Union to negotiate with it’s employer, but doing so with lies is wrong.
Thank you to our staff and loyal customer base for standing by us. We look forward to putting these past 2 weeks behind us and getting back to work.”
ABLE BC Webinar: How to Navigate Employee Layoffs with go2HR
Facilitators:
· Ginger Brunner, Manager, Industry HR, go2HR
· Sarah Moseley, HR Consultant, go2HR
Date: Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Time: 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Location: Zoom
With recent strike action by the BCGEU causing significant disruption to the liquor, hospitality, and cannabis retail industries, many ABLE BC members are once again considering the tough reality of laying off staff and temporarily closing their businesses. While laying staff off is never the employer's first choice, right now it may seem like an inevitable option.
The liquor, hospitality, and cannabis retail industries are also experiencing profound labour shortages. The impact of trying to replace currently committed staff, should they find employment elsewhere during a layoff, is significant. Additionally, there are important HR, mental health, and legal responsibilities to consider when facing layoffs.
If you are considering, or have recently moved towards laying off your employees, join go2HR for this practical and informative webinar.
By the end of the session, participants will:
· Identify the pros and cons of laying off some, or all, of your workforce
· Recognize critical human resource (HR) procedures that employers need to have in place prior to any lay-off conversations happening
· Understand applicable BC Employment Standards Act (ESA) provisions for layoffs, including: employer responsibilities, timelines and what to do if you cannot bring employees back from layoff and need to terminate
· Gain tips, with sample scripts, to help guide difficult layoff conversations with employees
· Recognize resources available to help support mental health and wellness for you and your employees during these challenging times
· Understand how to stay connected with laid off employees to minimize the potential risk of loss through turnover
This webinar is geared specifically for ABLE BC members. Members will have an opportunity to submit questions during registration for the session.
Survey
To help us quantify the impact this strike is having on your businesses and our industry, please fill out this survey. Your participation is critical to showing government and the public the true costs of the BCGEU’s strike.
Take the Survey Now
Preliminary results show a devastating impact, with 30 per cent of participants indicating a loss of profit up to $20,000 and another 35 per cent having laid off staff, or considering layoffs if the strike continues much longer. We hear you loud and clear, and we are bringing your concerns to government every day.
Resources
We know that many businesses are facing the tough reality of reducing operating hours or temporarily closing down due to a lack of inventory. Our partners at go2HR have put together this FAQ about temporary layoffs.
Click here for more information on employer responsibilities for Employment Insurance (EI) and here for information on supplementing EI benefits. If you are temporarily laying off employees, ensure to use Code A (shortage of work) on their Record of Employment (ROE). Click here for more information.
ABLE BC members are also encouraged to reach out to the go2HR Consultant in their region for assistance and guidance when laying off employees.
· Thompson Okanagan - Ginger Brunner
· Vancouver, Coast & Mountains - Cindy Conti
· Northern BC - Sarah Best
· Kootenay Rockies - Sarah Moseley
· Vancouver Island - Peter Charles
· Cariboo Chilcotin - Christie Blaquiere
Click here to read our BCGEU strike FAQs.
Click here to download stock out signage for liquor and cannabis retail stores.
Click here for a list of local producers to order from.
ABLE BC in the Media
After releasing this open letter to the BC Government and the BCGEU, ABLE BC has received significant media attention. See below for a selection of news stories that are amplifying our message that the BCGEU is hurting our industry.