As gas soars to $2 or more per litre in many parts of the province, the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) wants its members to stay home.
The trade union representing nearly 100,000 members is calling on the Province to allow provincially regulated employees, where possible, to work from home full time.
The BCGEU says it will “help combat (the) fuel crisis,” as the war in Iran has driven up fuel prices over the past month.
It’s a request that echoes the Canadian Association of Professional Employees’ call for governments to implement the International Energy Agency’s recommendations for reducing oil and gas demand.
Union president Paul Finch says the increasing price of gas places “an undue burden” on workers across BC.
“The provincial government has an opportunity to help alleviate that burden by allowing workers the flexibility to work from home,” he said. “In addition to lessening the pain workers are feeling at the pump, this move would help reduce emissions and congestion.”
Along with the work-from-home request, the BCGEU is also asking the government to explore options to provide aid for those who travel extensively for work.
It would be temporary relief meant to support home support and community outreach workers who may not have many options for public transportation as an alternative, the union says.
Ryan Mitton, the BC director of legislative affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said it would be "unreasonable" to accommodate the BCGEU's request.
"Small businesses are already struggling with rising costs and cannot afford government tilting the playing field any further toward the public sector," he said in a provided statement.
"Pulling thousands of public servants out of their communities full time would deal another blow to businesses already squeezed by US tariffs and mounting provincial taxes."
He noted that BC government employees already have "the most flexible remote work arrangements in the country" and just received a substantial 12% wage increase over the next four years.
As of early Tuesday afternoon, the cheapest gas in BC is around $1.60 per litre in places like Fort St. John, Enderby and Lake Country. No gas station currently has fuel under $2 per litre in the Vancouver area.
