Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

CONTRACT DISPUTES

Multi-union job action presence in Kamloops grows

Oct 3, 2025 | 4:44 PM

KAMLOOPS — Labour disputes have become a noticeable presence in the Kamloops area. Across Canada, there are currently 55,000 Canada Post workers on strike, while the BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) job action has escalated to 17,000 members this week.

That includes hundreds of people in the local area and thousands within the Interior who are trying to secure updated contracts with their employers. This week, local picket lines joined together for a solidarity march.

BCGEU members and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) met up for another joint march through downtown Kamloops Friday (Oct. 3).

“We’re all in the same boat together,” says CUPW Local 758 first vice-president Aaron Arseneau. “We’re fighting against corporations and the government who is not interested in supporting their workers at all. Instead it’s the same story. It’s funnelling the money into the hands of a select few.”

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

Canada Post workers hit the picket lines last week after sweeping federal changes to end door-to-door mail delivery, and close more rural offices. The company tabled a new offer to CUPW Friday morning, but the union doesn’t expect it to be accepted.

“I’m pretty confident that our negotiating committee won’t even put it to a vote to the membership,” says Arseneau. “Hopefully, it’s back to the negotiating table between CUPW and the corporation because we cannot accept that contract.”

BCGEU, meanwhile, has been on strike for about a month. The union wants a wage increase of eight per cent over two years to combat the rising cost of living. The latest offer from the province was four per cent over two years.

“Affordability, for sure, is still the number one key issue. The majority of our members, our frontline workers are still are having trouble making ends meet. A lot of them have more than one job,” says Darlene Clark, a program policy analyst and BCGEU member.

Job action recently escalated to nearly 17,000 BCGEU workers and there is no timeline for when the currently stalled bargaining will continue.

“Our spirits are up and we really appreciate all the public support that is out there. The more public support that is shown, the more it demonstrates to the government that we’re here and we want to be heard and we need to be listened to,” adds Clark.