BCGEU strike hits 37 more liquor stores, disrupting sales across the BC Interior

The BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) has escalated strike action with workers walking off the job at more than 37 BC Liquor Stores on Thursday.

According to the union, a total of 65 BC Liquor Stores are now on strike, representing nearly a third of all government liquor stores in the province.

Workers have walked off the job at several locations throughout the BC Interior.

That includes the following stores at:

• Columbia Place in Kamloops

• Mission Park in Kelowna

• Orchard Park in Kelowna

• Penticton Plaza

• Sungate Plaza in Summerland

• Village Green in Vernon

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“Due to strike action by the BCGEU, select BCLIQUOR store locations will be temporarily unable to serve customers or process hospitality customer orders,” said the BC Liquor Store website.

In addition to escalated job action, BC Liquor is implementing quantity limits due to strike action at liquor distribution centres in Kamloops and the Lower Mainland.

That means customers will be limited to “three units” per product per day.

That includes products that come in four-packs, six-packs and other formats, however, all beer products (import and export) and Bordeaux wines are excluded from the limit.

“The implementation of modest quantity limits is intended to prolong the availability of liquor products for retail and hospitality customers while the LDB’s distribution centres continue to be impacted by strike action,” the statement said.

“This measure will support equal access to product to ensure service for as many customers as possible.”

The BCGEU says over 14,900 public service workers are now engaged in job action.

This is the second escalation this week, which marks the fourth week of job action.

Paul Finch, BCGU president and chair of the bargaining committee, said the government’s refusal to return with a fair wage mandate has left the union with no choice but to further escalate the strike.

“From the beginning of this job action, public service workers have done everything possible to focus pressure on government without disrupting the public,” said BCGEU President Paul Finch, who also serves as chair of the Public Service Bargaining Committee.

“By withholding labour at liquor and cannabis warehouses and stores, we are reminding government that it’s public service workers who generate the revenue that funds healthcare, education and other community programs. These impacts don’t have to drag on—workers want a fair deal, and the sooner government comes back to negotiate, the sooner these disruptions will end.”