A public sector strike is expanding to British Columbia’s mining sector.
The B.C. General Employees Union (BCGEU) and the Professional Employees Association (PEA) said Tuesday they are escalating job action as their members enter a third week of strikes.
The BCGEU, which represents thousands of public service workers, including wildfire fighters, social workers, sheriffs, correctional officers, conservation officers, court clerks and others, said members working at the Mineral Development Office and Mineral Titles Office in Vancouver were joining picket lines, along with members at the the Southeast Mines Office in Cranbrook.
“BCGEU members ensure these projects meet safety, environmental, and regulatory standards. Without these workers, projects stall and communities wait,” said BCGEU President Paul Finch in a statement.
The PEA, which represents government-licensed professionals, said all its members from the BC Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals are now on strike. Its members include government engineers, geoscientists and others who oversee mine permitting, enforce safety regulations, and ensure environmental compliance.
The PEA entered bargaining with the Public Service Agency in late May, but it said talks broke down after the government failed to address the union’s demands around wages, reimbursement of required licensing fees, and a commitment to reducing reliance on external contractors.
Executive Director Melissa Moroz told those gathered at a rally in downtown Victoria Tuesday she was “disappointed” the government has not come back to the bargaining table.
She said the growth of the mining sector depends on fair wages for the experts the B.C. government relies on to regulate the industry.
The United Steelworkers union (USW) expressed its support for the striking workers. “Mining projects in this province help drive our economy, but they cannot proceed without the public service workers who approve permits and enforce safety and environmental standards,” said Scott Lunny, USW Director for Western Canada.
BCGEU said that in addition to the new strike locations, overtime bans have been declared for all members in correctional and sheriff services.
The latest escalation brings the total number of public service workers taking job action across B.C. to 8,500. The union has pledged to continue ramping up strikes and other job action until an acceptable agreement is reached with the Public Service Agency.
“We’ve done our best to minimize the impact to the public and the economy of British Columbia. We can’t do that indefinitely,” Finch told the Victoria rally.
A key sticking point in the negotiations is wage increases. The union is calling for an 8.25 per cent wage increase over the two-year deal. The latest provincial counter offer includes a 3.5 per cent increase over two years.
BCGEU has said public service workers are facing an affordability crisis, as wages fall behind the rest of the province. It noted between 2016 and the end of 2024, B.C.’s average weekly wage grew by over 40 per cent, while general wage increases in public service collective agreements rose by a little over 27 per cent.
An updated forecast in the province’s first quarterly report shows a deficit of $11.6-billion for 2025-26.
Finch said he’s not concerned about that revised deficit, and it won’t affect the union’s stance in negotiations.
