B.C. public service job action escalates with overtime ban at liquor warehouses

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 saysCBC News · Posted: Sep 12, 2025 12:15 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoMembers 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 British Columbia’s public service workers says it is escalating its job action by starting an overtime ban at several Liquor Distribution Branch warehouses.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.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.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 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.