Tuesday, March 17, 2026
ADVT 
National

Union to announce next phase of B.C. public service strike

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Sep, 2025 08:14 AM
  • Union to announce next phase of B.C. public service strike

The president of the B.C. General Employees’ Union is set to make an announcement this morning laying out the next phase of the union's public service strike.

The union says Paul Finch is scheduled to speak at a picket line in Surrey on the fifth consecutive day of picketing following the launch of job action last Tuesday.

The union represents more than 34,000 members working for B.C.'s public service and has held picket lines at locations including government sites in Victoria, Surrey, and Prince George, and the Royal BC Museum.

It says some of its key asks include competitive wages and fair access to telework.

Premier David Eby has said the government's goal is to reach a deal that's both fair to unionized workers and fair to taxpayers.

Negotiations for a new contract broke off in July.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada still top of mind for Trump, 'not a good place to be'

Canada still top of mind for Trump, 'not a good place to be'
As President Donald Trump signed an executive order for reciprocal tariffs on Thursday that escalates his trade threats, his administration took aim at Canada's digital services tax as a major trade irritant. The White House sent out a document calling digital taxes in both Canada and France "unfair" for taxing American companies.

Canada still top of mind for Trump, 'not a good place to be'

B.C. cancels $1,000 grocery rebate and pauses some hiring over Trump's tariff threats

B.C. cancels $1,000 grocery rebate and pauses some hiring over Trump's tariff threats
The British Columbia government is cancelling a promised $1,000 grocery rebate and will freeze hiring of some public service positions to "find dollars" in its budget as it prepares for "four years of unpredictability" from the United States, Finance Minister Brenda Bailey says. Bailey said Thursday that the impacts of the "reckless" and "destabilizing" tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump are impossible to predict.

B.C. cancels $1,000 grocery rebate and pauses some hiring over Trump's tariff threats

GST break brought a lot of work but little — if any — gains for businesses

GST break brought a lot of work but little — if any — gains for businesses
About two months after the federal government temporarily knocked the GST off a holiday-centric array of goods, Dave Doyon says he considers the move “a gift” even though a hoped-for flurry of sales never fully materialized.

GST break brought a lot of work but little — if any — gains for businesses

Two men arrested for fake taxi scam targeting B.C. universities, shopping centres

Two men arrested for fake taxi scam targeting B.C. universities, shopping centres
Metro Vancouver Transit Police say two men from Ontario have been arrested for taking part in a fake taxi scam that targeted people at universities and shopping centres in B.C.'s Lower Mainland. They say in a news release that the scam involves one of the suspects posing as a taxi passenger who asks passersby for help covering the charge.

Two men arrested for fake taxi scam targeting B.C. universities, shopping centres

Vancouver plans to tackle 'humanitarian crisis' of crime in Downtown Eastside

Vancouver plans to tackle 'humanitarian crisis' of crime in Downtown Eastside
Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighbourhood is in the grip of a "humanitarian crisis" of crime and violence that has reached a tipping point, Mayor Ken Sim said as he unveiled a taskforce to tackle organized crime. Sim stood alongside Vancouver police Chief Adam Palmer to announce what the mayor called a "long-term, sustained effort to disrupt criminal networks, hold offenders accountable and make our streets safer."

Vancouver plans to tackle 'humanitarian crisis' of crime in Downtown Eastside

B.C. minimum wage increases by 45 cents per hour starting June 1

B.C. minimum wage increases by 45 cents per hour starting June 1
The British Columbia government says the province's lowest-paid workers are getting a wage boost to keep pace with inflation. The Ministry of Labour says the minimum wage will increase from $17.40 to $17.85 per hour starting in June.

B.C. minimum wage increases by 45 cents per hour starting June 1