More Fort St. John workers join picket lines as BCGEU strike expands

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — More public service workers across British Columbia, including in Fort St. John and Tumbler Ridge, are now off the job as the union increases pressure to get a new contract.

The B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) says it has added 48 work sites to the picket list on October 7th, with another 2,600 workers taking part in strike action.

The additional pickets are at 18 provincial liquor and cannabis retail stores as well as about 30 B.C. offices for natural resources and land-use permits.

Workers at the BC Cannabis Store in Fort St. John, and BC Liquor Stores in both Fort St. John and Tumbler Ridge have also joined the strike, which started in early September.

The union says there are about 25,000 public service workers participating in job action out of a total of 34,000 members.

The BCGEU represents 489 workers in the Peace region. 

There were brief talks last week, but the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement, with workers demanding higher wages to address cost-of-living concerns and the government trying to find a deal amid fiscal constraints.

The B.C. deficit is forecast as a record $11.6 billion, and Brenda Bailey, minister of finance, has said the deal must be fair to both workers and taxpayers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published October 7th, 2025.

The Canadian Press