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3w ago

BCGEU, PEA Widen Job Action to Mining Offices, Impose Overtime Ban in Corrections

The escalation seeks to push the province back to bargaining over wages and workplace protections.

British Columbia General Employees' Union President Paul Finch speaks outside an ICBC driver licensing office, in Surrey, B.C., Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. The union issued 72-hour strike notice following a strike authorization vote in which 92.7 per cent of members voted in favour of job action. Public service members began strike action on September 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS

Overview

  • Professionals in the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals joined picket lines Tuesday at Vancouver’s Mineral Development and Mineral Titles offices and the Southeast Mines Office in Cranbrook.
  • Overtime bans now apply to all members in correctional and sheriff services, bringing the total number of public-service workers taking job action to 8,500.
  • The BCGEU earlier instituted overtime bans at several Liquor Distribution Branch warehouses, and coordinated pickets are now in their third week across B.C.
  • Unions are seeking an 8.25% wage increase over two years, while the province points to a roughly 4.5% two‑year framework and estimates the unions’ full proposals at more than $200 million in additional compensation and $437 million in ongoing annual costs.
  • Finance Minister Brenda Bailey reported a record first‑quarter deficit of about $11.6 billion, a development the union says does not change its negotiating stance.