The ongoing strike by the BC General Employees Union continues without a resolution in sight, posing a potential threat to the restaurant industry as liquor shortages loom. While the strike has not yet impacted the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) warehouses in British Columbia, restaurants are bracing for potential disruptions in their liquor supply chain.
Ian Tostensen, the president of the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association, expressed concern over the uncertainty created by the strike. He likened the situation to owning a bank and facing the threat of a robbery without knowing when it might occur. Tostensen explained that if the strike extends to LDB warehouses or stores, restaurants could face shortages in a matter of days.
Restaurant owners are now rushing to stock up on liquor supplies to mitigate potential shortages. However, the process is both costly and challenging due to limited storage space. In British Columbia, restaurants and bars are required to purchase liquor primarily from government-run outlets, with few exceptions for local products.
Besides the immediate risk of shortages, Tostensen highlighted the flaws in the current system, emphasizing the need for a redesign to prevent businesses from being caught in the crossfire of labor disputes they have no involvement in.
While the strike intensifies, over a thousand additional BCGEU members joined the picket lines recently. The union is pushing for an 8.25% wage increase over two years, along with protections for cost-of-living adjustments and remote work flexibility. Discrepancies between the union’s demands and the provincial government’s offer have stalled negotiations, with both sides at an impasse since July.