July 03, 2012 - 9:00 AM
VANCOUVER - A one-day strike by members of the BC Government and Service Employees Union is underway at three Liquor Distribution Branch facilities around the province.
Staff set up picket lines at the main distribution warehouse late Monday night and walkouts began Tuesday morning at the Kamloops distribution warehouse and at the wholesale customer centre in Victoria.
The BC Government and Service Employees Union is targeting liquor sites because of recently announced government plans to privatize the Liquor Distribution Branch warehouse and distribution service.
The only retail liquor store affected by the strike is at the main distribution branch in Vancouver and the BCGEU says all other government liquor stores will remain open.
The union is seeking a 3.5 per cent wage hike in the first year and a cost of living increase in the second, while the provincial government has offered two per cent and 1.5 per cent over a two year pact.
Finance Minister Kevin Falcon said Friday that a "generous" offer has been made and any strike action would mean the proposal is withdrawn and subsequent offers likely won't be as lucrative for the union's 27,000 members who work in direct provincial government service.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012