BC public service strike enters 2nd week with over 4,000 workers now on picket lines

September 9, 2025

RED FM News Desk

The public service strike in British Columbia has now entered its second week, with thousands of government employees joining picket lines across the province.

The BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) reported that over 1,000 additional members have joined the job action, bringing the total number of striking workers to more than 4,000 at 22 different sites. New picket lines have been confirmed in Surrey, Nanaimo, Williams Lake, Kamloops, Nelson, and Fort St. John.

Paul Finch, the union president, stated that workers are holding firm on their demands because their wages haven’t kept pace with the cost of living. “Public servants are demanding fair wages across the province,” Finch told reporters. “In our last agreement, we fell behind inflation over the last three years—and over the last 10 years. The current offer does not meet the needs of workers in this province.”

The BCGEU is seeking a 4% raise in 2025 and a 4.25% increase in 2026. The government’s most recent offer of 1.5% in the first year and 2% in the second year was rejected by 93% of union members. The union also points out that its members’ average salary is 2.7% less than the provincial weekly wage average.

Premier David Eby stated that government negotiators are trying to balance fairness for workers with the broader financial realities of the province.