September 22,2025
RED FM News Desk
Liquor and cannabis distribution warehouses in British Columbia are now behind picket lines as public sector workers escalate strike action to push the government back to negotiations.
The BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) says workers have walked off the job at the Liquor Distribution Branch headquarters in Burnaby, along with warehouses in Delta, Richmond, and Kamloops. The strike has also expanded to five additional provincial ministry worksites in Vancouver and Victoria, bringing the total number of active picket lines across the province to 28.
Now in its fourth week, the job action involves more than 10,000 workers and includes overtime bans. The union says further escalations will continue until the province agrees to return to the bargaining table.
The BCGEU is demanding wage increases tied to inflation and the rising cost of living. The province maintains it wants a deal that is fair both to workers and taxpayers.
Union president Paul Finch said targeting liquor and cannabis distribution is a last resort: “Until now, we’ve focused on government operations while limiting disruptions to the public. But with the government refusing to come back to the table, we’ve been left with no choice.”
He added: “Public service workers cannot keep falling further behind. The government’s low offer essentially tells British Columbians to expect cuts to vital services.”
Earlier this month, the union began pressuring liquor distribution with an overtime ban, and last week added workers in the mining sector to picket lines—just as the province moves to fast-track several projects.
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