Six Weeks In: How the BCGEU Strike Is Rippling Across B.C.

Six weeks into the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) strike, the effects are being felt across nearly every corner of the province — from stalled justice hearings to delayed student aid and shuttered liquor warehouses.

Roughly 22,000 provincial workers remain off the job in full or partial strikes, part of a broader labour dispute that union president Paul Finch says was bound to disrupt daily life.

“There’s an incredible number of important duties our members perform — from bridge construction and engineering safety to mining permits and meteorological reporting,” said Finch. “The list is expansive.”

Finch says liquor and cannabis distribution has been “significantly delayed,” and that negotiations with the province have been “non-existent” since Sept. 29. The union wants a four per cent annual wage increase, while the government’s offer — which Finance Minister Brenda Bailey pegs at five per cent over two years — has been flatly rejected.

‘We’re Seeing Slowdowns’

Bailey acknowledged Friday that “slowdowns” are occurring in several areas of public service but declined to specify which.

“There’s no question that there is an impact from these valued government workers not being at work,” she said. “We’re deeply focused on getting back to the table.”

Bailey said the strike has cost the province as well, including lost liquor sales revenue, and noted that the government has not calculated how much it has “saved” while employees are off the job.

Backlogs and Legal Delays

The strike has begun to jam up the justice system, where adjudicators and government lawyers represented by the Professional Employees Association have also walked off.

Vancouver lawyer Kyla Lee said driving offence hearings are being adjourned indefinitely, leaving people unable to drive while they wait for a decision.

“It’s going to make it very difficult for adjudicators, when they’re back to work, to render decisions in a timely fashion,” she said. “The backlog is going to be enormous.”

Lee warned that the disruption raises charter concerns around timely hearings. “When we treat people’s rights as pawns in a bargaining game, that affects everybody,” she said.

Students and Families Feel the Pinch

For students, the strike has frozen StudentAid B.C.’s online payment system, leaving some without their promised loans at the start of the school year.

“These funds are supposed to cover housing and food,” said William Kelly, a master’s student who relies on the program. “Without them, it’s really tough.”

Post-Secondary Education Minister Jessie Sunner said most students have already received their funding and urged those still waiting to contact their schools directly.

Families of children with autism have also been hit, as the province’s autism-funding office remains closed.

“It’s actually a lifeline,” said Suzanne Perreault of Autism B.C. “We’re really disheartened the system can’t keep moving during the strike.”

A Stalemate with No End in Sight

Despite growing public frustration, both sides appear dug in. The BCGEU says government needs to “come back with a real offer,” while Bailey insists the province is operating in a “constrained fiscal environment.”

For now, the picket lines remain up — and so do the delays.