B.C. restaurants warn liquor strike could push them to the brink

Six weeks into the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) strike, restaurants and bars are running on empty.

The job action has choked off the province’s liquor supply, with owners left scrambling to grab whatever booze is left.

“We’re now down to critical levels,” said Mark von Schellwitz, vice-president for Western Canada at Restaurants Canada.

“We’ve got restaurants sending their staff all over the Lower Mainland just to get minimal product.”

But even that, von Schellwitz says, is “becoming less and less of an option.”

“Most of the liquor stores are closed — and a lot of restaurants have also now sold off all their U.S. liquor inventory they were keeping through the whole ‘Buy Canada’ and tariff situation.”

On Wednesday, the BCGEU pulled all remaining workers at government-run liquor and cannabis stores off the job.

The union’s latest move marks another major escalation in the strike, with nearly 25,000 public-sector employees now behind picket lines.

Von Schellwitz says it’s pushed B.C.’s hospitality industry — already struggling after years of thin margins and pandemic debt — to the edge.

Restaurants Canada urges Victoria to step in

“If we don’t get a resolution or some sort of option to get liquor products, we’re going to have to reduce our operating hours — and that of course means fewer hours for staff.”

Restaurants Canada says 41 per cent of B.C. restaurants are “operating at a loss or just breaking even” right now.

“And in some cases, it doesn’t take much to put them into that situation where they could have to close their doors,” said von Schellwitz.

The group is now urging Victoria to step in before the situation gets worse.

“Either get the strike settled quickly or allow us some workaround options — like purchasing from private liquor stores,” von Schellwitz told 1130 NewsRadio.

He adds that if a deal isn’t reached soon, the province may have to consider back-to-work legislation.

“Sooner or later, that has to be an option, because you can’t continue to have a labour disagreement negatively impacting B.C.’s economy and the hospitality industry so much.”