The BCGEU has escalated strike action again, and now Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) stores are joining picket lines, which could impact supply in B.C. in a significant way.
Daily Hive spoke with BCGEU president Paul Finch, who said that this is now the longest civil strike in the province’s history.
“I think you’re going to see a significant impact in the coming days if the government fails to come back to the table and negotiate,” Finch told Daily Hive.
We asked for more specifics for consumers of booze and marijuana.
“Liquor and cannabis products across the province will be deeply impacted if government fails to come ot the table and negotiate,” Finch responded.
In a BCGEU statement, Finch said that the escalation “will impact the restaurant industry and small businesses, who are being caught in the middle of this dispute.”
“That’s why we’re calling on them to join us in pressing government to return to the table. Like them, we are frustrated that government continues to stall and refuses to return to the table to negotiate.”
According to the BCGEU, over 600 workers walked off the job at 25 LDB retail stores across B.C.
“These locations were chosen because they represent a significant source of government revenue. By withholding their labour at both warehouses and retail stores, public service workers are sending a clear message: they are essential to generating the revenue that funds the vital services British Columbians depend on every day,” BCGEU said.
We asked Finch about the latest in negotiations between the BCGEU and the provincial government.
“Government has refused to negotiate since July and has not come back to the table,” Finch said.
Finch added that when strike action began, it was done so in a way to bring the government back to the negotiating table without inconveniencing the public.
“But from the beginning, we said it wouldn’t be possible to do so indefinitely. And so, as of this week, the scope of our strike activity has expanded in such a way that it will now start impacting the public.”
Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA), told Daily Hive in an interview earlier this month that the latest news will have a reasonably quick impact on liquor supplies at restaurants and bars across the province.
“Small restaurants order maybe once a week… and large restaurants order twice a week,” he said.
He added that some restaurants choose to buy their liquor from B.C. Liquor stores, but now that those stores won’t be able to get supplies from their own warehouses, “that’ll burn out fairly quickly.”
We’ve contacted the LDB directly for comment, but it might be a good time to stock up on B.C. liquor and cannabis.
- You might also like:
- BCGEU escalates strike to B.C. liquor and cannabis warehouses
- BCGEU strike may leave B.C. restaurants without booze 'in days'
- Popular B.C. brewery set to close later this month until next spring
Want to stay on top of all things Vancouver? Follow us on X