‘Escalating very decisively’: Union boss on if further strike action could reach Fort St. John

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The job action of members of the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) and the provincial government have reached a fever pitch.

BCGEU members, who number 489 in the Peace region, walked off the job in early September, with escalating job actions now reaching the province-owned BC Liquor stores.

Although this second wave of the strike has not been felt in local shops in Fort St. John, BCGEU president Paul Finch believes it could be a matter of time.

“We took great pains to do a very targeted strategy for three weeks to try and convince the government to come back to the negotiating table,” said Finch. “We have had to progress.

“Ultimately, the goal here is to compel government to the table to get a fair deal. We hope government will come back to the table with a fair deal, but until then, we will be escalating very decisively over the next few days and weeks.”

There are currently 14,900-plus union members engaged in job action around the province, with both workers from the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) and cannabis stores joining the fray.

Additionally, labour and cannabis distribution centres shuttered on September 22nd, something Finch said will have an “aggregated effect.”

“As time rolls on and more and more civil servants join the picket lines, we get closer to the real full strike, where almost all of our members are on picket lines,” said Finch.

“Of course, you will see that effect that will reach into communities like Fort St. John and Dawson Creek.”

Meanwhile, workers continue to demonstrate in Fort St. John at the Francis Work Beaton Building at 110th Avenue.

Meanwhile, financial minister Brenda Bailey said there is some “back-channel work” going on and maintains the government is “keen to get back to the table.”

With respect to liquor stores province-wide stockpiling their inventories, she said: “Margins are tight there and so I’m certainly aware of the challenges that that industry is faced with, but my role is to make sure not only that we get a fair deal for these workers, but that we get a fair deal for all British Columbians.”

However, Finch disputed her claims. 

“There are no ‘back-channel’ talks taking place,” said Finch. “If the minister was referring to something happening internal to the government that we are not aware of or involved in, in any way, shape or form, perhaps that’s what’s happening. [But] the government has not expressed any interest in going back to the negotiating table.”

The union is seeking an 8.25 per cent increase over two years to offset inflation rates. No talks between the two sides are currently scheduled. 

A Leger poll released by the BCGEU suggests 81 per cent of respondents think wages should either equal or exceed the rate of inflation, with opinions at 42 and 39 per cent respectively.