The BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) has announced a “major escalation” in ongoing strike action, and it’s having a huge impact on liquor supply at B.C. restaurants and bars.

Nearly 25,000 workers are now on strike, as the BCGEU states, “All remaining BC Liquor & Cannabis Stores, all Service BC workers, and Ministry of Labour join the picket lines.”

A statement from Restaurants Canada puts out a dire warning on behalf of the B.C. foodservice industry.

“Restaurants and bars in B.C. are quickly running out of liquor inventory, as the BC Liquor strike enters its sixth week with no resolution in sight,” Restaurants Canada said.

“Restaurants Canada is urging the B.C. government and the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) to reach an agreement. If one can’t be reached this week, the B.C. government should allow restaurants and bars to purchase liquor from private liquor stores so they can continue serving their customers,” it adds.

“Currently, the only way for restaurants and bars to purchase liquor is by going to an open BC Liquor store, where they are limited to three items per SKU per day. With picket lines closing different BC Liquor retail locations every day, this is not a tenable solution, and it puts foodservice owners and workers at risk as they scramble to secure product,” Restaurants Canada says.

BCGEU President Paul Finch says the impact this is having on the public is regrettable.

“We don’t take this escalation lightly, and we know that disruptions to services are difficult for the public—we regret the impact this is having on communities,” he said in a release.

“After months of patience, our members have been left with no alternative. The government has a choice: they can sit down and bargain with us—or they can continue to let this disruption escalate,” Finch said, adding, “We’re ready to talk. We’ve been ready. The ball is in their court.”

Restaurants Canada says hundreds of thousands of jobs in the foodservice industry could be impacted, “many of whom are youth.”

The latest escalation comes after a historic demonstration on Monday in Victoria, which the BCGEU calls one of the largest labour rallies in decades.

A historic moment for working people in B.C.

Yesterday, more than 10,000 workers, unions, and supporters filled the streets of Victoria — one of the largest labour rallies in decades.

Moments like this don’t happen often. This gathering of union members brought back memories of… pic.twitter.com/aRBQ4m5vsI

— BCGEU (@bcgeu) October 7, 2025

A mass march also occurred in Vancouver last week.

We’ve contacted the BC Ministry of Finance for comment on the latest escalation in the ongoing BCGEU strike.