BC Hospitality Industry Braces for Potential BCGEU Strike Disruption

The hospitality industry in British Columbia is on high alert following a recent announcement from the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU). The union issued a 72-hour strike notice after its members voted overwhelmingly—by 92.7 percent—in favor of job action. A strike could commence as early as Tuesday morning, raising concerns among restaurants, bars, and other establishments reliant on provincial liquor sales.

When the BCGEU last staged a strike in 2022, picket lines were established outside four BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) centers. This led to significant interruptions in alcohol deliveries across the province, impacting numerous businesses. “They picketed in front of the warehouses where we get about half of the entire industry’s alcohol,” stated Jeff Guignard, president and CEO of Wine Growers BC. He noted that the LDB is the sole source for certain products, including international spirits and ready-to-drink beverages, which could lead to immediate and severe consequences for the industry.

While BC wineries, craft distilleries, and breweries have the capacity to deliver directly to restaurants and bars, Guignard cautioned that managing this transition would be challenging. “We certainly are going to do our best to connect buyers and sellers on this,” he said. “If there’s restaurants that would normally have an international product, we would do everything we can to serve them with BC wineries. But whatever increase in business is offset by the massive headaches and frustrations of having, at the last minute, to rejig supply chains.”

The hospitality sector is already grappling with difficulties, including tariffs affecting wine imports. Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association, expressed his concerns: “We’re on edge because of the lack of U.S. wine. That actually hurt us to a certain degree, so this is just another disruption.” He emphasized that a strike by the LDB would prevent access to essential products, which would further exacerbate the challenges faced by the industry.

Negotiations between the BCGEU and the BC Public Service Agency began in April 2023, but discussions broke down in July 2023. Key issues in the negotiations include wages, remote work policies, and the need for a “modernized contract.” Workers represented by the BCGEU encompass a range of professions, including firefighters from the BC Wildfire Service, liquor store employees, correctional officers, sheriffs, and social workers.

BCGEU president Paul Finch has refrained from disclosing specific details regarding the anticipated job action, maintaining a level of ambiguity as the situation develops. During the previous strike in 2022, picketing lasted for two weeks, leading to significant disruptions that took months for the hospitality sector to recover from. Guignard remarked, “It’s massively disruptive and it will cost industry millions of dollars and potentially jobs. However this dispute goes down, it just needs to get resolved as soon as possible because otherwise it hurts us and the thousands of small businesses in this industry that have nothing to do with this dispute.”

As the deadline approaches, the hospitality industry remains vigilant, hoping for a swift resolution to avoid the repercussions of a strike. The ongoing discussions underscore the critical balance between labor rights and the economic stability of a sector that is already facing numerous challenges.