File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

Liquor Distribution Overtime Ban

Overtime ban in effect at Kamloops Liquor Distribution Branch as strike action escalates

Sep 12, 2025 | 7:36 AM

KAMLOOPS — An overtime ban is in effect at the Kamloops Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) as the BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) escalates its strike action.

The BCGEU says the overtime ban covers 1,700 workers at distribution centres in Kamloops, Delta and Richmond as well as its head office in Burnaby, as of Friday (Sept. 12) morning.

Job action started on Sept. 2 and the first picket line in Kamloops was set up on Tuesday (Sept. 9) this week.

The union representing nearly 34,000 members in public service positions in B.C. wants the provincial government to return to the bargaining table with an improved wage offer. BCGEU says talks over a new contract broke down in July, after the expiry of the previous contract on March 31.

Paul Finch, BCGEU president and chair of the public service bargaining committee, says their members are prepared to continue job action for as long as it takes.

ONE MAN'S OPINION

COLLINS: There is no disgrace in being cheesy once in a while

Dec 07, 2025

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: December 4, 2025

Dec 04, 2025

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: 16 days of activism against gender-based violence

Dec 03, 2025

“Public service workers should not be asked to shoulder the affordability crisis while government counts on their labour to generate record liquor revenues,” Finch said in a news release. “If government won’t treat workers fairly, they shouldn’t expect business as usual.”

The BCGEU says it proposes an 8.25 per cent wage increase over two years, while the province has said the union wants a 15.75 per cent compensation increase, including both wages and allowances.

With the LDB overtime ban, the union says more than 6,000 members are now involved in job action.