B.C. union calls on government to allow work from home amidst rising fuel costs

The B.C. General Employees Union (BCGEU) is calling on the provincial government to allow employees who can do so to work from home.

The request comes amidst rising fuel costs resulting from the war in the Middle East, which are exacerbating the cost of living.

“We’re seeing a spike in household costs, really transportation costs right now, and we’re sounding the alarm early,” Paul Finch, BCGEU president, told 1130 NewsRadio.

He said allowing workers to work from home where appropriate will help to “ease the affordability burden”.

Working from home became commonplace during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but over the last few years, governments and individual workplaces have moved to reinstate in office work.

But Finch said the current financial burden represents and ongoing theme. While the cost of living is rising due to fuel costs, many British Columbians have been struggling on a daily basis.

He said the ask to the government was made “intentionally vague” in the hopes of the provincial and federal governments working together to establish solutions that can provide relief to workers. This includes some sort of relief for workers who cannot work from home.

The BCGEU is one of the largest unions in British Columbia, with over 95,000 members in almost every community and economic sector, including nearly 35,000 public service workers.