Dear BCGEU,

The government has failed to come to the bargaining table with a fair deal, and as a result, members of the public service have been on strike for weeks. This isn't what any of us wanted, and it's especially disappointing coming from a government who promised to prioritize workers' rights.

With government failing to return our calls, it feels like the BCNDP is turning their backs on workers - the very people who helped get them elected. We need to remind them that many members of the BCGEU give votes, dollars, and volunteer time helped put them in office. 

To do that, we want to connect with BCGEU members who have supported the BCNDP in the past. If you've ever voted, donated, volunteered, served on a riding association, attended a BCNDP convention, worked as a campaign staffer, or contributed to the BCNDP in some other way, we want to hear from you.

I've supported the BCNDP in the past

I haven't supported the BCNDP

The BCNDP was elected based on their history of standing up for workers and the labour movement. While the BCGEU is not affiliated with the BCNDP, we know our membership has meaningfully supported the party in the past because the NDP claimed to be a party that supports working people. Public service workers aren't getting that support.

Last week, we held a once in a generation rally with over 10,000 members and supporters at the legislature telling the government to get back to the bargaining table. We're planning next steps to keep the momentum going, and we value your assistance in helping us make those plans. 

Let's keep the pressure on. 

In solidarity, 

Paul Finch 
President

UWU/MoveUP

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 10, 2025

BCGEU Escalates Strike Action to Include All Remaining Staff at Adult Correctional Facilities Province-wide  

BURNABY, B.C. – As the sixth week of job action comes to a close, the British Columbia General Employees' Union (BCGEU) is escalating job action once again. Today, all remaining staff at adult correctional facilities across the province are on strike, bringing the total number of public service workers taking job action to nearly 25,000, across more than 470 worksites. 

"Public service is at the heart of who we are, and we do not take the decision to escalate this strike lightly," said Paul Finch, BCGEU President. "The path to resolution lies with the government. Talks have stalled not because of our unwillingness to negotiate, but due to their lack of urgency and meaningful engagement." 

The number of fully struck ministries and services also rose to 20, as the BCGEU intensifies pressure on the provincial government to return to the bargaining table with a fair and respectful offer. 

A full list of striking worksites is available here. 

"We're calling on the provincial government to come back to the table with real proposals that reflect the essential work our members do every day," Finch added. "British Columbians deserve a public service that is properly resourced and respected - and our members deserve nothing less than a fair deal." 

With over 470 worksites affected and thousands more workers joining the strike lines, significant impacts to public services are expected in the days ahead. The BCGEU continues to maintain essential service levels where required by law but warns the government and public that further escalation is possible if the government continues to delay a fair deal. 

The BCGEU's public service bargaining committee remains ready to return to the table as soon as government is prepared to present a revised wage offer. It has been more than a week since talks broke down. Until the government takes bargaining seriously, strike action will continue to grow. 

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For more information, contact BCGEU Communications:

Nadja Komnenic:[email protected] | 604.442.2289

Backgrounder:https://www.bargainingbc.ca/public_service

UWU/MoveUP

Dear BCGEU members not working in the Public Service,

A lot has happened with the public sector strike since we were in touch last week.

The employer has left us no choice but to escalate job action sharply and we've added thousands of workers to the strike in the past few days. The vast majority of public sector workers are now on strike. Over 25,000 BCGEU members are taking job action and 475 worksites are impacted.

Can you amplify the voices of striking workers by telling your MLA to fund the frontlines? It takes only a few minutes to send a message directly to your MLA. 

In addition to the escalating strikes, we organized major rallies in Vancouver and Victoria. We filled the streets and dominated the news cycle in an inspiring display of determination and solidarity. 

This week we've been very clear: we will keep fighting for a deal that addresses the affordability crisis our workers are facing. Job action will continue to escalate until the government returns to the table with a fair deal. We won't back down. 

Report back on the Vancouver Rally

Last week, over 2,000 people took to the streets to push for a fair deal to addresses long-standing issues of wage erosion, cost-of-living increases, and basic respect for public sector workers. The Vancouver rally was a beautiful demonstration of worker power and solidarity. If you missed it, you can watch the livestream on our YouTube Channel, Facebook and Instagram

Report back from the Victoria Rally

On Monday, more than 10,000 workers, unions, and supporters filled the streets of Victoria. It was one of the largest labour rallies in decades, and when rallies this big have happened in the past, they've been turning points for B.C.'s public services.

In Victoria, the march started at Centennial Square, and grew larger, louder, and more powerful as picket lines joined us along the route. The energy was electric and our message was clear: We are united. We are strong. And we are not backing down.

By the time we reached the Legislature, the crowd was so massive that we spilled out into the surrounding streets. Representatives from at least eight other unions, representing millions of workers across Canada, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us in solidarity.

Monday was a strategic day for a massive action. It was our largest escalation of job action yet and the first day of the fall legislative session. As elected officials gathered in the legislature for opening ceremonies, thousands of us outside made sure the justified demands of workers couldn't be ignored.

There were so many people that we caused traffic jams in real life AND on the airwaves. We overloaded the cell networks and our livestreams on YouTube and Facebook couldn't keep up. Usually, too many people is a good problem to have, but we're sorry that overloaded airwaves meant many of you had trouble viewing the livestream.

To see the size of the rally check out this photo album from Monday's incredible event.

Thank you!

These rallies would not have been possible without the tireless work of volunteers who made art, assembled signs, served as march marshalls, helped with site set up, provided first aid, and made sure everyone was able to check in for their picket shift.

To every member who volunteered, marched, rallied, or cheered from afar: thank you. Your energy, solidarity, and determination are what make this movement powerful.

CBA talks have reached impasse

On Oct 3, members of the Community Bargaining Association (CBA) which includes 13,000 BCGEU members announced that negotiations with the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) have broken down and have reached impasse. CBA members work in critical, community-based health services across B.C., including drug and alcohol treatment centres, adult day care, detox and emergency shelters, women's clinics, seniors' services, mental health group homes, home support, and more. Despite bargaining since March, the employer has failed to meaningfully engage on key non-monetary issues that matter most to frontline workers. 

We'll be in touch again soon with further updates.
 

In solidarity,

Paul Finch
President 

UWU/MoveUP

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 9, 2025

BCGEU Escalates Strike Action: Over 25,000 Frontline Workers Now on Strike Across B.C., including 11 Fully Struck Ministries and Crown Corporations 

BURNABY, B.C. – The British Columbia General Employees' Union (BCGEU) is escalating job action once again. Today, more than 25,000 frontline public service workers across 475 worksites will be on strike and brings the total number of fully struck ministries and crown corporations to 11, as the BCGEU intensifies pressure on the provincial government to return to the bargaining table with a fair and respectful offer. 

The 11 ministries and crown corporations now fully struck are: 

• Citizens' Services 

• Forest Practices Board 

• Energy and Climate Solutions 

• Finance

• Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation 

• Liquor Distribution Branch 

• Royal B.C. Museum 

• Mining and Critical Minerals 

• B.C. Pension Corporation 

• Infrastructure

• Water, Land and Resource Stewardship 

A full list of striking worksites is available here. 

With 475 worksites affected and thousands more workers joining the strike lines, significant impacts to public services are expected in the days ahead. The BCGEU continues to maintain essential service levels where required by law but warns the government and public that further escalation is possible if the government continues to delay a fair deal. 

The BCGEU's public service bargaining committee remains ready to return to the table as soon as government is prepared to present a revised wage offer. It has been more than a week since talks broke down. Until the government takes bargaining seriously, strike action will continue to grow.

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For more information, contact BCGEU Communications:

Nadja Komnenic: [email protected] | 604.442.2289 Backgrounder: https://www.bargainingbc.ca/public_service 

UWU/MoveUP

Dear PS members, 

As we continue to stand strong together on the picket lines, we want to share an important update about strike pay (including for those doing essential services work) and to provide some information on when strike pay is paid.  


Strike Pay Has Changed!

Effective immediately, strike pay has changed from the target pay system to a flat rate system. The new flat rate strike pay will apply to the current pay period that began September 28. 
 
For each picketing shift, members will earn $130, tax-free.  

If you're full-time, you're eligible to work up to 5 picket shifts/week (for a maximum of $650, tax-free). If you're part-time, you're eligible for prorated strike pay for as many shifts as you are scheduled to work. For example, if you work 3 days/week, you can picket and get strike pay for 3 shifts (3 × $130 = $390 tax free).  

If you work in essential services, here's what you need to know:  

• If you work under 7 hours of essential services in a week, you can work up to 5 picket shifts per week, for a maximum of $650 if you are full time or prorated if part time. 

• If you work 7 hours or more of essential services in a week, for every 7 hours of essential work, you are scheduled for 1 fewer picket shift. Example: If you are full time and work 14 hours essential services, you will do 3 picket shifts ($390) plus your wages for 14 hours of essential work. 

Finally, if you are full-time and your strike pay and any applicable essential shift wages are less than $650/week, you may schedule additional picket shifts to bring you up to the $650 maximum.  

Here's a flow chart to explain the new system:
 

Flowchart shows changes to strike pay which are explained in this bulletin.

Your Strike Pay Questions Answered 

When is the pay period? 

The pay period is from Sunday-Saturday each week, with payments issued on the following Friday. For this current week, the pay period is Sunday September 28-Saturday October 4, and Payworks will issue payments on October 10. 

When do I get paid? 

Payworks deposits money into bank accounts and issues cheques each Friday. For those who have signed up for direct deposit, your pay will appear immediately in your account, but some banks or credit unions have a processing delay before the money will show up in your bank account. This is not a delay on the union's end, so is unfortunately not something that we can control. If you have questions about this, you can speak directly with your bank or credit union.

If you are expecting a cheque, you should call or email the AO corresponding to the Area in which you picketed as of Monday for how to get your cheque. 

Will the postal strike affect strike pay? 

CUPW members at Canada Post just announced a national strike, which could mean significant delays in getting strike pay cheques to you. The single best way to avoid strike pay delays is to sign up for Payworks.

Please check your inbox for an email from [email protected] and follow the instructions. You will be asked to confirm your identity, to create login credentials and to set up direct deposit by providing your banking information. Further info about Payworks can be found here. 

Your dedication is the backbone of this strike. Together, we're showing strength, determination, and solidarity in every corner of the province. 

In solidarity, 
Your BCGEU Public Sector Bargaining Committee


Strike Quick Links

During this round of bargaining and job action, our union has been maintaining a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) for members, including questions about sick days, covering work, overtime, and remote work. It can be found at https://www.bcgeu.ca/ps_faqs

Know your worksite so you don't unknowingly scab. Regardless of how often you work or if you work remotely, if your or your team's worksite, home base or headquarters is being picketed, you are on strike. If you're unsure of your home base or headquarters, talk with your coworkers or check the address on your paycheque, letter of employment, telework agreement and/or physical address of your worksite. Knowing your worksite is critical to ensuring you don't unknowingly scab (i.e., work when you're actually on strike). For more, review "How do I determine if my worksite is on strike?" in our FAQ here. 

UWU/MoveUP

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2025

Almost 2,600 more workers added to escalation of BCGEU public service strike

BURNABY, B.C. – A day after more than 10,000 union members, allies and community members marched and rallied at the B.C. Legislature in Victoria, the B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) has escalated strike action again with 48 more worksites representing almost 2,600 more members joining picket lines. 

The government's failure to bring a fair offer to the table means the strike now includes nearly 30 FrontCounter BC offices province-wide - where British Columbians access natural resource and land use permits - as well as 18 more BC Liquor and Cannabis stores. As of today, every worksite in the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship is also now on strike. 

See a list of all striking worksites here

Almost 25,000 members of the public service are now engaged in job action across the province; over 22,000 workers are on strike at 359 fully or partially struck worksites and there are 127 picket lines. 

The Public Service Bargaining Committee is prepared to return to the table as soon as the government presents a meaningful offer. The BCGEU is calling for a 4 per cent general wage increase per year for two years - a modest and reasonable proposal that acknowledges inflation and reflects the essential contributions of public service workers. In contrast, the government's offer of 2 per cent per year for two years falls far short of what's needed to keep pace with inflation and maintain stable public services. 

Without fair wages, the government risks losing the very workers who keep B.C. running - from wildfire crews and social workers to sheriffs, IT professionals, and frontline administrators.  

Spokesperson available for comment: 
Paul Finch, BCGEU president and chair of the Public Service Bargaining Committee 

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For more information, contact BCGEU Communications:
Nadja Komnenic: [email protected] | 604-442-2289 
Backgrounder: https://www.bargainingbc.ca/public_service

UWU/MoveUP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2025 

Over 10,000 rally at B.C. Legislature to support striking public service workers 

VICTORIA, B.C.– Coinciding with the start of the fall legislative session, more than 10,000 union members and allies marched through Victoria today in a powerful show of unity with nearly 19,700 striking public service workers represented by the B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU). Marking the sixth week of job action, leaders from major unions and allied organizations - including the Professional Employees Association (PEA), United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) and the BC Federation of Labour (BCFED) - joined BCGEU president Paul Finch at the rally, denouncing government inaction at the bargaining table and calling on them to return with a fair wage offer or face continued job action escalation in the coming days.

"We brought our bargaining demands straight to the government's doorstep right at the start of the fall legislative session," said BCGEU president Paul Finch. "Today's rally – our biggest rally yet – shows the undeniable power of working people standing together. B.C.'s public service workers deserve respect, fairness, and wages that reflect their true value. We won't back down, we won't be divided, and we won't stop until we win a fair deal." 

This show of solidarity comes just one week after resumed negotiations collapsed on their first day, deepening tensions in what is now one of the largest public sector job actions in B.C. history. 

Meanwhile, the BCGEU sharply escalated its job action today as members walked off the job at 106 additional worksites, bringing the total to 308 sites impacted across the province and a total of nearly 22,000 workers participating in job action. 

The threat of even greater disruption to public services looms as the Community Bargaining Association (CBA) announced last Friday that they had reached an impasse in talks with the government. The CBA represents close to 23,000 workers across the province, and its members work in some of the most critical, community-based services like drug and alcohol treatment centres, adult day care, detox and emergency shelters, women's clinics, seniors' services, mental health group homes, home support, and more. 

Despite growing public disruption, the BCGEU reiterated its commitment to bargaining a fair contract that addresses the affordability crisis faced by public service workers. Talks broke down again on September 29 when the government returned to the table with no meaningful improvement on wages. The BCGEU is calling for a four per cent general wage increase each year for two years for all public service workers - a fair and modest proposal that keeps pace with inflation. 

The government's counter of a two per cent per year for two years general wage increase falls well short. While government has publicly claimed their offer amounts to five per cent over two years, that figure is misleading: it folds in temporary market adjustments and other items not all workers would receive. 

"Workers have kept vital public services running under immense pressure," said Finch. "They deserve transparency and real wage growth - not spin tactics and stalled talks." 

– 30 – 

For media inquiries, contact BCGEU Communications: 
Nadja Komnenic: [email protected] | 604.442.2289 
Backgrounder: www.bargainingbc.ca/public_service

UWU/MoveUP

MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

October 5, 2025 

Fund the Frontlines Rally – March on Legislature 

VICTORIA, B.C. – Senior leaders from across the labour movement and allied organizations will join striking BCGEU members in a mass march and rally to demonstrate strength and solidarity as B.C.’s public service strike enters its sixth week. 

Coinciding with the opening of the fall legislative session—and just one week after negotiations with government broke down again—the BCGEU is urging the province to return to the bargaining table with a credible wage offer. 

Thousands of striking workers and supporters are expected to participate. The march will begin at Centennial Square and conclude with a rally on the lawn of the B.C. Legislature. Media are invited to attend. 

Event Details 

• WHEN: Monday, October 6, 2025 
  • March begins at 11:00 a.m. 
  • Rally begins at 12:00 p.m. 
• WHERE: 
  • March departs at 11:00 a.m. from Centennial Square, Victoria, B.C. and moves down Blanshard Street with picketers from various government buildings joining the march along its route. BCGEU President Paul Finch will lead the march with members of the Public Service Bargaining Committee and other labour leaders. 
• March route: 

• Rally at the B.C. Legislature with speakers beginning at 12:00 p.m. 
• VISUALS: Thousands of public service workers and supporters with picket signs
• WHY: The BCGEU is escalating its campaign for a fair contract amid an ongoing labour dispute with the B.C. government. Workers are calling for real wage increases that reflect rising costs of living and the essential services they provide.

N.B.: -The event will also be livestreamed on the following BCGEU social media platforms: 

• YouTube 
• Facebook 
• Instagram 

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On site media liaison: 
Holly Reid: [email protected]| 604-875-0124

For more information, contact BCGEU Communications:
Nadja Komnenic:[email protected]| 604.442.2289
Backgrounder:https://www.bargainingbc.ca/public_service

UWU/MoveUP

Action required: Collecting your strike pay cheque  

Because Canada Post workers are on strike and mail delivery has been suspended across the country, we are currently unable to send your strike pay cheque by mail. 

To receive your cheque, please call or email your area office to let them know you are receiving your strike pay by cheque. You can find contact information for all area offices here: https://www.bcgeu.ca/full_contact

An area office representative will then make arrangements to get your cheque to you directly. 

We recognize this creates an extra step for you, so we thank you for your patience and your solidarity with CUPW members also fighting for a fair contract! 

If you have not already done so, please sign-up for Payworks to receive your strike pay by direct deposit in future. Check your inbox for an email from [email protected] and follow the instructions. If you are having issues specifically with Payworks - you haven't received the email or you're having other issues getting your account set up - please contact our strike support team at [email protected] or call 1-833-833-1647.  

In solidarity,
Your Public Service Bargaining Committee 

 
Paul Finch, President and Committee Chair
Maria Middlemiss, Treasurer
Dean Purdy, Component 1 Vice-President
Kusam Doal, Component 5 Vice-President
Judy Fox-McGuire, Component 6 Vice-President
Mona Dykes, Component 6 Second Representative
DJ Pohl, Component 12 Vice-President
Faith Johnston, Component 12 Second Representative
Sebastian Kallos, Component 20 Vice-President
Linsay Buss, Lead Negotiator
Larisa Mills, Staff Representative
Sumiko Marshall, Support Staff

UWU/MoveUP