Dear ABLE BC Members & Industry Allies,
This Sunday morning, the BCGEU announced it has reached a tentative agreement with the provincial government, after nine months of negotiations and eight weeks on strike.
ABLE BC's Bo Chen comments:
"Everyone has been working day and night since the strikes, so this is encouraging news."
BCGEU members will review and then vote on the agreement as part of the next step to complete the deal. Information on ratification process will be given to union members over the next week, and voting itself would begin the week after. The BCGEU has stated they will respect the Professional Employees' Union (PEA) picket lines in solidarity.
Bo adds:
"Going into this week, I'm anticipating that the immediate focus and available resources will be on restoring operations at the LDB as well as certain functions of the LCRB."
Joint Industry Advocacy Efforts - Looking Ahead
ABLE BC and our Industry Allies are navigating ahead looking at next steps.
Collectively, we recognize there is an urgent need to ensure that BC's current liquor and cannabis supply chain system has enough flexible measures and reinforcements to efficiently meet the immediate pressure of market demand caused by the strike.
Bo comments:
"We need the help of industry, government partners, and the union to make sure that efforts are coordinated, equitable, and solutions are provided in a timely manner to keep private businesses in BC alive."
Bo adds:
"Restoring the system won't be perfect and there will be logistical challenges, I highly recommend our members to consider continuing to invest with direct delivery partners as an extra preventative measure to help mitigate any potential disruptions to inventory."
ABLE BC is working with all stakeholders as this develops and continues to advocate for our industry's dedication to business and economy, keeping people employed, and providing services to our communities.
If you have any questions or need assistance with an issue stemming from the BCGEU strike, please contact Bo Chen at bo@ablebc.ca.
