VANCOUVER, British Columbia — “The BCGEU’s strike action increased today, with workers walking off the job at 17 additional BC Liquor Stores across the province, as well as at the Ministry of Attorney General,” the British Columbia General Employees’ Union told the media Sept. 26. “Today’s action brings the total number of Liquor Stores on strike to 77 and over 15,000 members of the public service engaged in job action across the province.”
The BCGEU, the largest union in the province with 34,000 members, launched the strike Sept. 2 after the membership voted to walk out by 92.7%. Picket lines grew every few days, stepping up the pressure on the government.
“From the beginning of this job action, public service workers have done everything possible to focus pressure on government without disrupting the public,” BCGEU President Paul Finch told CTV News. “But government’s refusal to return to the bargaining table with a fair wage mandate has left us no choice but to escalate.
“Government’s low offer is essentially telling British Columbians to expect cuts to the services they depend on,” he added.
The union is asking for an 8.25% increase over two years. The New Democratic Party provincial government is offering less than 2% a year, below the rate of inflation.
Strikers outside the Finance Ministry offices in Vancouver told the Militant more than 100 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union had joined their picket line. And members of the Hospital Employees Union, BC Nurses Union and BC Teachers Federation have joined them as well.