More than 17,000 BCGEU workers now taking job action after failed negotiations

More liquor and cannabis stores and government offices will be closed behind picket lines Friday as a strike by B.C.’s public sector workers enters its fifth week.

Following failed negotiations on Monday, the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) says Friday’s escalation includes nearly 900 more workers from 20 retail stores, and staff from the ministries of Environment and Parks, Children and Family Development, Energy and Climate Solutions, and Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.

“Every day this government delays, pressure on public services grows. Public service workers deserve wages that keep up with the cost of living. The government must return to the table now with a serious offer, or job action will escalate further. We are not backing down,” said Union President Paul Finch.

On Monday, Finch said the province came to the table offering a wage increase of just two per cent a year over two years, totalling four per cent.

“There’s no point in calling us back to the table if you’re not going to present something materially different. We know where the parties are at. This was totally unacceptable.”

On Wednesday, thousands of union members and supporters rallied in downtown Vancouver.

That day, Premier David Eby defended the province’s latest offer.

“It was not an insignificant move by government to add an additional 0.5 per cent. That reflects hundreds of millions of dollars in an incredibly tight fiscal environment. We’re trying to get back to this table. We respect the work of the public service. We think it’s crucial. British Columbians need those public servants to be at work,” Eby told media at an unrelated event.

The union is seeking a wage increase of 8.25 per cent over two years to address increasing cost-of-living concerns, among other issues.

The latest strikes bring the total workers taking job action to over 17,000.