FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2025

BCGEU escalates job action across British Columbia

BURNABY, B.C. – The BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU) has escalated job action today, expanding picket lines to multiple new locations across the province.

New picket line sites as of Tuesday, September 9:

• Victoria: 976 Meares Street; and 617 Government Street
• Nanaimo: 2080 & 2100 Labieux Road
• Surrey: 10475 138 Street; and 14323 57 Avenue
• Kamloops: 441 & 447 Columbia Street
• Williams Lake: 640 Borland Street
• Kelowna: 478 Bernard Avenue
• Cranbrook: 117 10th Avenue South
• Nelson: 566 Stanley Street
• Fort St. John: 10003 110th Avenue
• Smithers: 3726 Alfred Avenue

A full list of active picket lines, including these new sites, can be found here. Please note that due to air quality concerns, Prince George and Williams Lake will be virtual pickets until further notice. 

Job action now spans a total of 22 sites with more than 4,000 workers on strike. Picket locations continue to focus on government operations, with minimal impact on the public. At the same time, BCGEU members working at these locations are needed by the B.C. economy more than ever – they're required to move resource projects forward. Without them, environmental assessments and permits don't happen, projects stall and communities wait.

Today marks the beginning of the second week of job action in response to a breakdown in negotiations for a new collective agreement that covers over 34,000 BCGEU members employed by the provincial public service. These workers-ranging from wildfire firefighters, social workers, correctional officers and sheriffs to administrative professionals and conservation officers-are fighting for competitive wages, fair access to telework, a modernized contract and a limit on non-union managers.

The union's proposal is for a two-year agreement that lifts wages for members at the lower end of the pay scale, introduces targeted occupational adjustments, and incorporates bonuses into base salaries to provide lasting improvements. The proposal is designed to help workers cope with the affordability crisis while strengthening the public services British Columbians rely on. On average, BCGEU public service workers make about 2.7% below the overall provincial weekly average wage. For example, the pay for wildfire fighters tops out at $56,546/year.

"The 4% and 4.25% increases that BCGEU members have proposed are fair and reasonable," said Paul Finch, BCGEU president and chair of the public service bargaining committee. "The government's latest offer-just 1.5% in the first year and 2% in the second-falls far short of addressing members' needs and is essentially telling the public to expect cuts in the services we all rely on."
 

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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

UPDATE:BCGEU president media availability – Kamloops & Kelowna

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C.– The BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) has cancelled Tuesday’s Prince George picket line due to air quality concerns. BCGEU President Paul Finch will instead join members on picket lines in Kamloops and Kelowna, where he will be available to speak with media.

Please see revised event details below in yellow highlight.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2025  

Job action escalation begins

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – The BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU) will begin escalated job action tomorrow with new picket lines going up at multiple locations across the province. 

BCGEU president and chair of the public service bargaining committee, Paul Finch, will be available to media at the Prince George picket line from 10am – 11am to discuss the escalation.

Spokespeople will also be available at other picket locations (details below). 

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

     

Full list of new picket line locations as of Tuesday, September 9th can be found here. This represents an increase to 22 sites and over 4000 workers on the picket lines in total.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the second week of strike action following the launch of job action last Tuesday. Escalation is necessary because the provincial government has refused to return to the bargaining table with a revised wage offer. 

"The public service bargaining committee is ready to return to negotiations as soon as government comes back with a new wage mandate," said Finch. "BCGEU members have asked for 4% in year one and 4.25% in year two. This is a reasonable ask for members who provide critical services across the province. We need government to come to the table with a fair deal. Until then, our union will continue to escalate job action across the province." 

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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
September 4, 2025

BCGEU Escalates Job Action as Employer Fails to Table Improved Wage Offer 

VANCOUVER, B.C. – The BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU) is escalating job action today as part of an ongoing province-wide strike in the public service. With no indication that the provincial government's Public Service Agency (PSA) is willing to return to the table with an improved offer, picket lines have expanded this morning to include nearly 90 workers at the Ministry of Finance at 900 Howe Street in downtown Vancouver.

BCGEU President Paul Finch will join striking workers on the picket line in Vancouver this morning at 900 Howe Street, between 9:30am and 10:30am, where media are invited to attend.

Today marks the third consecutive day of picketing in the BCGEU's campaign for fair wages and a modernized contract for more than 34,000 bargaining unit members working for B.C.'s public service.

Job action began Tuesday, when over 2,600 BCGEU members walked picket lines at key government sites in Victoria, Surrey, and Prince George, and the Royal BC Museum.

"BCGEU members in the public service deliver the essential services British Columbians depend on every day, and they deserve wages that reflect the value of the critical work done by workers including wildfire fighters, social workers and court clerks," said Paul Finch, BCGEU president and chair of the Public Service Bargaining Committee. "The employer's refusal to put forward a wage proposal that meaningfully addresses the affordability crisis leaves us no choice but to escalate job action."

Negotiations between the BCGEU and the PSA began on January 22, 2025. Talks reached an impasse last month after the collective agreement expired on March 31, 2025. Members are calling for a wage package that keeps pace with the rising cost of living and recognizes their vital contributions to the province.

Job action will continue to escalate until government brings a fair offer.

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For media inquiries, please contact:  

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

UWU/MoveUP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
September 2, 2025 

BURNABY, B.C. (Coast Salish Territories) – A portion of members of the B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) working for the BC Public Service will begin job action today at various locations throughout the province after issuing strike notice on Friday, August 29, 2025. 

Picket lines will go up in Prince George, Surrey and at sites across Victoria. BCGEU president Paul Finch will be available to media at 10:00am at the Jack Davis building at 1810 Blanchard Street in Victoria. 

Picket lines will also be in Prince George at 1011 4th Ave and in Surrey at 10470 152 Street. Shift times vary, but picketers will be on site for photos and video between 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST. 

Note: there will be no media spokespeople at the Prince George and Surrey picket lines. Video assets will be available by 2pm. Please send interview requests to Nadja Komnenic, BCGEU Communications  
[email protected], 604-442-2289 

“Public service workers fight fires, staff emergency lines, and care for our most vulnerable. But these workers are facing an affordability crisis,” said BCGEU President Paul Finch. “These same people who are struggling to make ends meet have voted overwhelmingly to strike. They are declaring that the government’s last offer is unacceptable and they are willing to fight for the deal that they need.”  

The union's proposal, tabled the week of June 23, 2025, was for a two-year deal at 4% in the first year and 4.25% in the second year. The proposal includes wage lifts for members at the lower end of the pay scale, and targeted occupational adjustments and bonuses into base salaries to provide lasting improvements. The proposal is designed to address the affordability crisis workers are facing so that we can strengthen the public services people in British Columbia depend on. Details of the latest offer and counteroffer are publicly available on the BCGEU website. 

A strike vote was called following a breakdown in negotiations between the BCGEU and the PSA on July 18, 2025. Voting began on August 11 and closed August 29. Members voted 92.7 per cent in favour of taking job action, allowing job action to take place within 90 days, following 72-hour strike notice which the union issued on August 29, 2025.    

Media Contact 
Nadja , BCGEU Communications 
[email protected] | 604-442-2289 

About the BCGEU 
The B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) is one of B.C.’s largest, most diverse, and fastest growing unions, representing over 95,000 members in 550 bargaining units in both the public and private sectors. 73,000 of those members are covered by one of six sectoral agreements in the public sector, and 34,000 within the public sector group work directly for the public service. For more visit: https://www.bargainingbc.ca/public_service. 

In support of workers’ demands, the BCGEU released the July 2025 report B.C.’s public service: An investment in public safety and a healthy economy.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
September 1, 2025  

Victoria, B.C. (Lək̓ʷəŋən Territory) – A portion of members of the B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) working for the BC Public Service will begin walking picket lines tomorrow, September 2, 2025, at various locations throughout the province.  

BCGEU President Paul Finch will join striking workers on a picket line in Victoria where media are invited to attend. 

WHAT: Striking BCGEU members working for the BC Public Service walking a picket line in Victoria. BCGEU President Paul Finch will give remarks to workers and then be available for media interviews.  

WHEN: Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 10 a.m. PST 

WHO: BCGEU President Paul Finch with striking public service workers. 

WHERE: Jack Davis Building, 1810 Blanshard Street, Victoria, B.C. 

VISUALS: BC Public Service workers with picket signs and flags walking around the entrances to the building. Chanting and remarks from BCGEU President Paul Finch. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Nadja Komnenic, BCGEU Communications  
[email protected], 604-442-2289  

Picket lines will also be in Prince George at 1011 4th Ave and in Surrey at 10470 152 Street. Shift times vary, but picketers will be on site for photos and video between 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST.  

Note: there will be no media spokespeople at the Prince George and Surrey picket lines. Please send interview requests to Nadja Komnenic, BCGEU Communications  
[email protected], 604-442-2289    

The BCGEU’s public service bargaining unit is one of the largest in B.C., consisting of over 34,000 members. Negotiations with the BC Public Service Agency began on January 22, 2025. The strike vote was called following a breakdown in negotiations between the BCGEU and the PSA on July 18, 2025. Strike notice was issued on August 29, 2025, after BCGEU members voted 92.7 percent in favour of striking.  

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

92.7% of public service workers vote in favour of strike for fair contract, union issues 72-hour strike notice 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
August 29, 2025 

BURNABY, B.C. (Coast Salish Territories) – The bargaining committee representing more than 34,000 members of the BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU) who work for the BC Public Service will issue 72-hour strike notice this afternoon, following the conclusion of their strike authorization vote and an overwhelming strike mandate. Members voted 92.7 per cent in favour of taking job action. Job action could begin as early as Tuesday morning. Over 86 per cent of eligible members voted. 

The union will not be releasing details about the job action at this time. 

"Frontline workers in the public service are facing an affordability crisis that must be addressed in this round of negotiations," said bargaining chair and BCGEU president Paul Finch. "Government's current offer doesn't meet the urgency of this crisis, and this emphatic strike vote result reflects workers' deep concern over the lack of progress at the bargaining table. Their message to government is clear: we are united and ready to act to secure a fair contract that keeps B.C.'s public services strong." 

Members of the Professional Employees Association (PEA) who also work for the BC Public Service also announced today that they have voted in favour of taking job action and that they will be issuing 72-hour strike notice. 

"It's time for the BC Government to invest in the public service. We can't keep losing experts like engineers and youth psychologists, who provide critical services to the province," said Melissa Moroz, Executive Director of the PEA and lead negotiator for the union. "We made a strategic decision a year ago that we would stand beside the BCGEU. Their fight is our fight, and we are united as workers in the public service." 

A spring survey conducted by the BCGEU revealed that because public service wages in B.C. have not kept pace with the cost of living, BCGEU members' overall precarity has increased. Seventy per cent report spending more than 30 per cent of their pre-tax income on housing costs. Approximately half are living paycheque to paycheque while 30 per cent are relying on savings to pay living expenses, and 22 per cent report working a second job to make ends meet. 

"Wages need to reflect the real cost of living. Right now, my biggest fear is losing my current rental agreement and being forced into market rates I simply can't afford," said Shannon Butt, BCGEU member and BCLDB worker. 

In this round of negotiations, workers are seeking competitive wages that address the affordability crisis, fair access to telework, a modernized contract that more fairly values their work, and a limit on non-union managers so more resources can be made available to fund the frontlines. 

"Government has been hiring excluded managers at twice the rate of frontline workers which means more bureaucracy, fewer people serving the public, and workers forced to do more with less," said Finch. "We need an agreement that addresses the needs of working people in this province." 

The union's proposal, tabled the week of June 23, 2025, was for a two-year deal and proposes lifting wages for members at the lower end of the pay scale, and targeted occupational adjustments and bonuses into base salaries to provide lasting improvements. The proposal is designed to address the affordability crisis workers are facing so that we can strengthen the public services people in British Columbia depend on. 

"Our workplace can't hold onto staff. People leave for higher-paying jobs elsewhere, and we're stuck in a cycle of constant vacancies, endless training, and burnout," said Ping Leong, BCGEU member and Family Justice Counsellor. "We need stability in our jobs to provide reliable, sustainable services for the people who depend on us." 

A strike vote was called following a breakdown in negotiations between the BCGEU and the PSA on July 18, 2025. Voting began on August 11 and closed today. The successful strike vote allows job action to take place within 90 days, following 72-hour strike notice. 

The BCGEU's public service bargaining unit is one of the largest in B.C., consisting of over 34,000 members. Negotiations with the BC Public Service Agency began on January 22, 2025.

Media Contact 
Nadja Komnenic, BCGEU Communications 
[email protected], 604-442-2289 

About the BCGEU 
The B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) is one of B.C.'s largest, most diverse, and fastest growing unions, representing over 95,000 members in 550 bargaining units in both the public and private sectors. 73,000 of those members are covered by one of six sectoral agreements in the public sector, and 34,000 within the public sector group work directly for the public service. For more visit: https://www.bargainingbc.ca/public_service.

In support of workers' demands, the BCGEU released the July 2025 report B.C.'s public service: An investment in public safety and a healthy economy. 

UWU/MoveUP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 28, 2025

BCGEU responds to HEU framework deal

Burnaby, B.C. – The B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) is expressing strong disappointment with the deal announced between the Hospital Employees' Union (HEU) and the provincial government this afternoon.

"The BCGEU is very disappointed with today's announcement of a deal framework between the Hospital Employees' Union and the provincial government," said BCGEU President Paul Finch. "The agreement is below inflation and undermines the very fight that public service workers across B.C. are taking on together for fair wages and respect at the bargaining table. This announcement will not undercut the strength and solidarity of BCGEU members, and the wider labour movement currently engaged in bargaining. BCGEU members are united, and we are pressing forward to win a fair deal that respects the rising cost of living and the critical work our members do every day," continued Finch.

BCGEU will be conducting a press conference on Friday, August 29 at 2:00pm to share results of the BCGEU strike vote and next steps in the public sector bargaining process. Details of the press conference are available here.

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Media Contact: Nadja Komnenic, BCGEU Communications 
[email protected], 604-442-2289 

UWU/MoveUP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
August 28, 2025 

Subject: Poll: British Columbians back public service workers in fight for fair contract 

Survey shows 74% support increased compensation for frontline workers 

BURNABY, B.C. (Coast Salish Territories) – A Leger poll commissioned by the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) shows strong public support for public service workers currently negotiating their next collective agreement. Nearly three-quarters of British Columbians (74 per cent) say a salary increase is reasonable given the rising cost of living, and 60 per cent are concerned that affordability issues are causing frontline public service workers to leave their jobs. 

The poll comes as over 34,000 BCGEU members working for the public service conclude a strike authorization vote after talks with the provincial government reached an impasse in July. From wildfire response and community care to corrections and social services, workers across the public service are facing an affordability crisis – yet government’s current offer falls far short of addressing members’ needs and strengthening the public services people in British Columbia depend on. 

“People in B.C. know strong public services are essential, and that to keep them sustainable we need to invest in the frontline workers delivering them,” said BCGEU president Paul Finch. "This poll affirms that government’s low offer is out of step – not just with the affordability crisis workers are facing, but with the priorities of British Columbians.”  

Key findings: 

• 74% agree that given the rising cost of living, it’s reasonable to consider a salary increase for frontline public service workers in B.C. 

• 60% are concerned that affordability issues are causing frontline public service workers to leave their jobs. 

• 80% agree that too much is spent on management and not enough on frontline staff in the B.C. public service. 

• Of those who had an opinion, British Columbians are nearly twice as likely to side with public service workers (37%) as with the provincial government (19%) in a potential labour dispute. 

"In our polling over the past year, we’ve seen a consistent theme emerge in that British Columbians tend to side with workers in contract negotiations because of inflation concerns and the affordability crisis,” said Steve Mossop, Executive Vice President at Leger. “The results of this survey show strong concern for frontline public service workers in B.C. and broad support for their rationale in seeking better wages and benefits." 

The poll also shows clear public support for rebalancing the high ratio of non-union management positions to unionized frontline positions (currently one to three), with 70% of respondents agreeing that government should focus on hiring more frontline workers. 

“Government has been hiring excluded managers at twice the rate of frontline workers which means more bureaucracy, fewer people serving the public, and workers forced to do more with less,” said Finch. “We need to fund the frontlines instead.” 

Respondents to the survey did express a need to balance the impact of spending on pay increases with the needs of taxpayers. Still, support for public service workers remained strong even when respondents were asked to make decisions on balancing fiscal priorities. Support for public service workers is especially strong among British Columbians who would vote for the BC NDP if an election were held today. A majority of BC NDP supporters (61%) say government should prioritize investing in public services even when budget choices are difficult (even if it means a higher deficit) and nearly nine in ten (87%) agreed that a salary increase for frontline workers is reasonable given the rising cost of living. 

The BCGEU’s public service bargaining unit is one of the largest in B.C., consisting of over 34,000 members. After negotiations began on January 22, 2025, talks between the BCGEU and the BC Public Service Agency broke down on July 18, 2025. A strike authorization vote is now taking place, starting August 11 and ending August 29, 2025. 

Media Contacts 
Jocelyn Wagner, BCGEU Communications 
[email protected]
Steve Mossop, Leger 
[email protected]

About the BCGEU 
The B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) is one of B.C.’s largest, most diverse, and fastest growing unions, representing over 95,000 members in 550 bargaining units in both the public and private sectors. 73,000 of those members are covered by one of six sectoral agreements in the public sector, and 34,000 within the public sector group work directly for the public service. For more information visit: https://www.bargainingbc.ca/public_service.

Methodology 

The results are based on an online survey conducted by Leger from August 22 to August 25, 2025, with a representative sample of 1,004 British Columbian adults 18 years of age and older from Leger’s LEO panel. Results were weighted according to age, gender, region, education, and presence of children in the household in order to ensure a representative sample of the British Columbian adult population. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey, but for comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size yields a margin of error no greater than ±3.1%, (19 times out of 20) for the sample. 

Link to Survey

Data tables available by request. 

UWU/MoveUP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
August 27, 2025 

BURNABY, B.C. (Coast Salish Territories) – B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) president and public service bargaining committee chair Paul Finch will hold a press conference on Friday, August 29 to announce the results of a strike vote by BCGEU members working for the public service. 

The strike vote was called following a breakdown in negotiations between the BCGEU and the BC Public Service Agency (PSA) on July 18, 2025. Voting began on August 11 and closes at noon on August 29. 

Date: Friday, August 29, 2025 

Time: 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. PST 

Location: In person: 4911 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C., please check in at reception. Online: For Zoom access, contact [email protected].

Who: The BCGEU public service bargaining committee. BCGEU president Paul Finch will be available for interviews. 
 
RSVP: Media are asked to please RSVP to confirm attendance. Paper copies of the media release announcing the strike vote result will be distributed on site 15 minutes before the press conference begins. 

The BCGEU’s public service bargaining unit is one of the largest in B.C., consisting of over 34,000 members. Negotiations with the BC Public Service Agency began on January 22, 2025. 

Media Contact: Nadja Komnenic, BCGEU Communications 
[email protected], 604-442-2289 

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

UWU/MoveUP