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B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) members picket outside of a B.C. provincial liquor store in Vancouver, on Oct. 10, 2025. The Canadian Press/Ethan Cairns
The union representing striking public service workers in B.C. says it will begin non-binding talks with the province to work on resolving their ongoing labour dispute.
The strike began when workers walked off the job on Sept. 2.
The talks with the B.C. government will be led by mediators Amanda Rogers and Vince Ready, the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) said in an Oct. 17 statement. The union is asking for a 4 percent general wage increase over two years to keep up with the increasing cost of living, while the government’s latest offer is a 2 percent increase over two years.
The B.C. Ministry of Finance said in a media statement that the province is focused on “reaching a fair agreement that works for everyone,” but declined to comment further out of “respect for the mediation process.”
The union said the province got in touch yesterday afternoon with an offer to hold talks. Union president Paul Finch said such progress shows the efficacy of the strike.
“Public service workers have been steadfast and united in their call for a fair deal. Their solidarity and determination have brought government back to the table,” Finch said in the Oct. 17 union statement. “Mediation represents a next step toward resolving this dispute in a way that respects the vital work our members do every day.”
The strike currently impacts approximately 25,000 provincial employees in various sectors, including retail, health care, administration, social services, and corrections. Picket lines will remain at liquor and cannabis stores as well as a number of affected provincial ministries and Crown corporations while the negotiations with the province take place, the union said.
Mediation will begin “as soon as possible,” Finch said, noting that any agreement between the province and BCGEU will still be subject to a member vote for approval before taking effect.
Finch said more than half of BCGEU’s workers have thought about quitting their jobs and finding new work due to the rising cost of living. He said going on strike last month was necessary because “they cannot afford to keep falling behind financially.”
