Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,
This morning, the BCGEU announced that after six months of negotiations, its over 34,000 members will prepare to take a strike vote in the coming weeks following a breakdown in negotiations for their next collective agreement.
The union and the provincial government's Public Service Agency (PSA) reached an impasse today over key issues, including competitive wages, fair access to telework, and a modernized contract.
The BCGEU says, “The union will now initiate preparations for a strike vote, including comprehensive outreach to ensure all members are equipped with the information needed to make an informed decision. As such, the strike vote is estimated to begin mid-August.”
As you likely remember, BCGEU members working in the public service took job action in 2022 during the last round of contract negotiations, resulting in a two-week strike at BC Liquor Distribution Branch warehouses, seriously disrupting sales of liquor and cannabis across the province (and forcing hospitality, liquor, and cannabis retail businesses to bear the brunt of the impacts), before reaching an agreement.
The BCGEU has not yet indicated whether they intend to disrupt operations at LDB Wholesale or BC Liquor Stores.
During today’s press conference, a reporter referenced the 2022 strike that involved the liquor and cannabis distribution warehouses, and asked if a plan was in place for what a strike would look like in 2025.
In response, the BCGEU said, “This round, we don’t have a strike mandate. All I will say is we are very prepared to take whatever job action is necessary to achieve a fair deal for our members. I want to emphasize that reaching impasse today does not mean we’re going to be on strike right away [...] Once we receive the results of the strike vote [from our members], we will seek to go back to the table with the employer to try and achieve a fair deal for our membership.”
ABLE BC is continuously monitoring the situation and engaging with government and industry stakeholders. We will keep industry apprised as details progress and continue to progress our efforts to get the clarity you need to plan for your business.
For more information, please refer to:
If you have any other questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Bo Chen: bo@ablebc.ca.
