A tentative agreement was reached on October 26th in labour negotiations between the British Columbia (BC) government and the British Columbia Government Employees Union (BCGEU). The agreement includes a 3% wage increase each year for four years, as well as improved benefits and stronger job security. A vote on approval by union members is scheduled to take place next week.
In response, the BCGEU suspended an eight-week strike by its approximately 25,000 members. From the 27th, BC Liquor Stores and liquor distribution warehouses resumed operations.
This is good news for the restaurant industry, which has been unable to procure alcohol, but the impact of the longest strike in British Columbia’s history as a public servant has been significant, and it will likely take some time for the entire system to return to normal.
Ian Tostenson, president of the BC Restaurant and Foodservice Association, welcomes the agreement, but believes that disruption will be unavoidable for the time being. Speaking to Global News Online, he said that there are currently about 800,000 cases of inventory waiting to be distributed. He added that during the previous two-week strike in 2022, it took three months for supplies to be fully restored. “This time, with Christmas and New Year’s coming up, we’re aiming for a recovery within three weeks,” he said.