The ongoing strike at distribution centers has caused the government to limit sales of certain items starting Friday. Customers will not be able to purchase more than three individual items per day, using the barcode. This restriction applies to all products, except beer, and affects individual customers as well as businesses such as restaurants, pubs and bars. The Liquor Distribution Division (LDB) stated that the modest limitations are intended to ensure that there is enough liquor for as many customers as possible.
The purchase limit will remain in effect until the centers return to normal operations. Employment Minister Ravi Kahlon said that the LDB's decision was made to support equity for all those affected by the strike. On Monday, the General Union of Employees (BCGEU) staged pickets in front of the Delta, Richmond and Kamloops distribution centers, as well as in front of the Victoria wholesale customer service center. The union is asking for a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to be included in the new collective agreement for its members of the public administration.
This would link future wage increases to inflation, which has reached historic levels in Canada. The BCGEU is the largest public sector union in the province and represents 33,000 employees in alcoholic beverage and cannabis stores and warehouses, as well as firefighters, social workers, sheriffs and correctional officers. Although private liquor stores were not affected by the ban on working overtime, every legal cannabis dispensary in British Columbia was affected by the pickets at distribution centers. This prevented alcohol and cannabis products from being distributed in stores for customers.
