Updated 11:41 AM
Nearly a third of all BC Liquor Stores are now on strike, including PG’s Pine Centre location, which hit the picket line this morning (Thursday).
This is part of the escalating strike action by the BC General Employees Union as they continue to look for a new contract.
President, Paul Finch told Vista Radio the NDP government seems to be out of touch on the needs of public sector workers.
“I am not sure what’s going to get the province’s attention. I am not sure who they are working for. We have a situation here where the vast majority of British Columbians do not support their position and we have released a couple polling results showing that. You don’t need to look at a poll to see, you can just walk down a street.”
“People in B.C. understand the cost has gone up sharply as the average wage in this province has increased by 40% over the last decade and our wages have only gone up 27% during that time falling far behind the average wage in B.C.”
Finch believes the province is viewing these negotiations with rose-coloured glasses.
“Clearly, the government is not in touch with where the general public is at. You can look to Alberta with a very far-right government to reach a deal without strike activity.”
Finch added wages among public sector workers have risen only 27% in the past decade, well behind the rest of the province .
PG’s Hart and College Heights locations remain open.
Updated Story 10:00am
The BC General Employees Union announced this morning (Thursday) 37 additional BC Liquor Stores are joining in the escalated job action including PG’s Pine Centre location.
PG’s Hart and College Heights locations remain open.
MyPGNow will be speaking with BCGEU President Paul Finch this morning (Thursday).
Original Story 8:26 AM
Prince George residents will still be able to go for a beer run at a government-owned liquor store for the time being.
On Wednesday, retail employees joined the escalated strike action by public sector workers.
The B.C. General Employees Union stated over 600 workers walked off the job at Liquor Distribution Branch locations.
Twenty-five provincially owned liquor stores closed its doors, the vast majority of are in the Greater Vancouver area and Victoria along with one location each in Kamloops and Kelowna.
As of now, quantity limits will be placed on all products, excluding beer (import and domestic), and Bordeaux wines until the distribution centres resume normal operations.
Retail and hospitality customers will be limited to three units per product per day.
This includes refreshment beverage products that come in 4-packs, 6-packs and other formats.
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