B.C.’s public service strike has now stretched into its second week, with thousands of government workers adding picket lines across the province – and an update from union leaders expected Tuesday morning.
The B.C. General Employees’ Union says more than 1,000 additional members are joining the job action, bringing the total to more than 4,000 workers on strike at 22 different sites. New picket lines have been confirmed in Surrey, Nanaimo, Williams Lake, Kamloops, Nelson and Fort St. John.
Union president Paul Finch said workers are standing firm because wages have not kept up 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 four per cent raise in 2025, followed by a 4.25 per cent increase in 2026. The government’s most recent proposal was far lower – 1.5 per cent in year one and two per cent in year two – an offer the union says 93 per cent of members rejected.
The union argues its two-year proposal goes beyond general wage increases – lifting pay for lower-wage workers, introducing targeted occupational adjustments, and converting bonuses into base salaries. The goal, Finch said, is to help members keep up with the affordability crisis while stabilizing public services.
The BCGEU also points out that its members earn, on average, 2.7 per cent less than the provincial weekly wage, with wildfire fighters topping out at just $56,546 a year.
Premier David Eby said government negotiators are aiming to balance fairness for workers with broader financial realities.
“We’re keen for a deal that’s fair to workers, that recognizes the hard work done by government employees right across the province – making life better for British Columbians – and is also fair to taxpayers, recognizing the fiscal headwinds that the province is facing,” Eby said.
So far, strike action has focused on government service offices, with the union stressing it has prioritized “core government services” in order to minimize the impact on the public. But Finch warned that won’t last forever.
“Everything we’re doing is designed to bring government back to the table with a fair wage offer,” he said. “If they do not come back, we will be expanding this strike – and that expansion will start to impact the services that British Columbians rely on.”
While there may be minimal impact on the public right now, the union warns their absence could stall resource projects, environmental assessments, and permits that communities depend on.
A BCGEU spokesperson is scheduled to provide a strike update Tuesday morning outside the Surrey Pretrial Centre, one of the newly announced picket sites.
The province has not indicated when, or if, negotiators will return to the table.