Tuesday September 30, 2025 | VANCOUVER, BC [Posted at 12:15 pm | Updated 12:38 & 12:54 & 2:10 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
In what the BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) calls a “major show of solidarity”, there will be a mass march and rally in downtown Vancouver on Wednesday October 1.
The march will start at 12 noon at the Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby Street) and culminate in a rally at 1 pm at Jack Poole Plaza next to the Vancouver Convention Centre (1055 Canada Place).
Thousands of striking workers from across the Lower Mainland and supporters are expected to participate including union leaders and allied labour organizations. Community members are welcome to be there.
Timeline:
BCGEU workers have been exercising their right for job action since September 2. That started small and has been escalating. Their intention was not to disturb the general public at first, but some fray in the delivery of public services may begin to escalate.
The union says it is escalating its campaign for a fair contract amid an ongoing labour dispute with the BC provincial government.
Picket lines have been held in various cities around BC including Vancouver and Victoria, including in front of ICBC, Liquour Distribution Branch locations, the Royal BC Museum, and provincial government offices.
BCGEU President and chair of the public service bargaining committee, Paul Finch, joined a picket line in Victoria yesterday, telling media about how the BC government didn’t return to the bargaining table until the last few minutes of available meeting time. That was the first in-person meeting at the bargaining table for both sides since negotiations broke down in July.
Statement September 29:
Yesterday BCGEU in a statement said that “talks have again collapsed”. They say that “government failed to deliver a meaningful offer”.
Currently the provincial budget has a contingency that could cover a wage increase for BCGEU workers, but not to the level that BCGEU is asking. The union has asked for wage increases totalling 8.25 per cent over two years.
Cost of living:
Workers are calling for what they call “real wage increases” that they say would “reflect rising costs of living and the essential services they provide”.
Most people in BC are also struggling with the continual upward pressures on the cost of living.
The BC government says it needs to strike a balance between supporting its workers and the needs of all British Columbians (which would be seen through continual support of major social deliveries such as health care, education and social programs).
Analysis:
It’s unclear how much pressure — through strikes, rallies and marches — that it will take for the employer (i.e. BC Government) to say enough is enough and sweeten the deal (if they can).
So far, the public has been — overall — fairly unresponsive to the strike action, taking it in stride as ‘business as usual’.
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: BCGEU | 43rd PARLIAMENT OF BC | JOBS & EMPLOYMENT