British ColumbiaThe B.C. General Employees’ Union say it is escalating its job action by starting an overtime ban at several Liquor Distribution Branch warehouses, beginning Friday.Job action now involves more than 6,000 public service workers in B.C., BCGEU saysThe Canadian Press · Posted: Sep 12, 2025 12:15 PM EDT | Last Updated: September 12Members of the British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) picket outside an ICBC driver licensing office in Surrey on Sept. 8. The union is escalating action Friday with an overtime ban at liquor warehouses. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press)A union representing B.C.’s public service workers says it is escalating job action by starting an overtime ban at several Liquor Distribution Branch warehouses, raising concerns for restaurants already dealing with economic pressures.The B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) says in a statement that the overtime ban is effective Friday and applies to distribution centres in Delta, Richmond and Kamloops, as well as at the Liquor Distribution Branch’s head office in Burnaby.The union says the escalation expands the number of public service workers engaged in job action in B.C. to more than 6,000.BCGEU represents more than 34,000 public service workers, including firefighters, social workers, correctional officers and sheriffs, administrative professionals and conservation officers.WATCH | BCGEU escalates strike action: BCGEU escalates job action across B.C.The B.C. General Employees’ Union is ramping up its job action, rolling out new actions in more cities in B.C. As Johna Baylon reports, the union says the targeted job action has meant the public hasn’t felt the impact so far, but say that may change.The job action, which has included pickets across B.C., is in its second week as members seek higher compensation to address increasing cost-of-living concerns, among other issues.Friday’s escalation has triggered a state of “nervousness and anxiety” among restaurateurs who rely on government-run liquor distribution, according to B.C. Restaurant and Food Services Association president Ian Tostenson.Tostenson says concern is at “eight-plus” out of 10, with the prospect of further job action in government-run liquor distribution looming.The head of a British Columbia restaurant industry association says businesses are in a state of ‘nervousness and anxiety’ over possible liquor distribution disruptions as public service labour strife expands to several warehouses. (Wildinette Paul/CBC)Tostenson says while larger restaurants have begun increasing alcohol stocks, smaller family-run businesses don’t have the space or the funds to guard against disruption at the Liquor Distribution Branch.”I liken it to, an example would be that you owned a bank and someone said, ‘I’m going to come and rob you at some point but I’m not going to tell you when,'” he said.”So the feeling of nervousness and anxiety for us and uncertainty is paramount.”He says the overtime ban itself should not affect current distribution too much beyond a slowdown in product movement, but it is a “warning shot” from the union in its dispute with the province.”It just sets into motion an uncertainty that we shouldn’t be having to deal with in an industry right now that’s been faced with major labour shortages in our kitchens and tariff uncertainties, economic uncertainties,” Tostenson said.”So for us to be party to a third-party labour dispute, we’re not happy about it.”The union says the province has not returned to bargaining with a new offer, adding that the Ministry of Finance’s description of members’ last proposal is mischaracterizing workers’ position on wages.The BCGEU says it proposes an 8.25 per cent wage increase over two years, while the province has said the union wants a 15.75 per cent compensation increase, including both wages and allowances.The ministry said the government’s offer when talks ended was a 4.5 per cent compensation increase over two years.
‘Anxiety’ for restaurateurs as BCGEU job action escalates to liquor warehouses
