The head of a group representing British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 restaurant and bar industry says the ending of job action by the provinceB次元官网网址檚 largest public-sector union will avert further B次元官网网址渕ental stressB次元官网网址� for workers and owners already reeling from uncertainty.

Ian Tostenson of the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association said the unionB次元官网网址檚 announcement in light of B次元官网网址渟ignificant progressB次元官网网址� towards a deal with the government was good news for establishments running out of alcohol, especially small businesses that may have been forced to cut employeesB次元官网网址� hours or shut down.

The BC General EmployeesB次元官网网址� Union said in a statement Tuesday that it was standing down from two weeks of job action that included pickets at liquor distribution centres that prompted the government to impose a purchase limits on alcoholic products at BC Liquor Stores.

The BCGEU, which represents about 33,000 employees, also imposed an overtime ban last week after saying the provinceB次元官网网址檚 Public Service Agency had not invited it back to the bargaining table since talks broke down last spring.

However, talks resumed last Thursday, and the unionB次元官网网址檚 bargaining committee said Tuesday it was ending the overtime ban as a sign of good faith and preparations were underway to lift the picket lines at the liquor distribution centres.

Tostenson said restocking would be B次元官网网址渁 bit roughB次元官网网址� but he was grateful further distress was being averted for businesses facing a labour shortage as they emerge from the pandemic.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 probably going to take, realistically, three to four weeks to get the system up and running again, but I know the (Liquor Distribution Branch) has been working on restart plans so itB次元官网网址檒l be a priority in terms of restocking the industry as fast as possible,B次元官网网址� he said.

Premier John Horgan said he was relieved to hear of a tentative deal for the sake of the hospitality industry and B次元官网网址渇or all British Columbians.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭his will be the beginning of a template for further negotiations with other critical employees that service British Columbians B次元官网网址� nurses, teachers, support staff, all of the other public-sector workers that are so important to us,B次元官网网址� he said, mentioning sectors whose unions are also looking for wage increases in future or ongoing talks with the government.

Finance Minister Selina Robinson said at a news conference to unveil the provinceB次元官网网址檚 public accounts that she was pleased at the apparent progress the BCGEU and the government were making at the bargaining table.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 looking forward to getting a deal done as soon as possible,B次元官网网址� she said.

Tostenson said the announcement of a possible resolution was timely because public pressure for a quick settlement of the dispute, which also affected cannabis stores, may have turned sentiment against both the union and the government

B次元官网网址淚 think the BCGEU made its point and sort of knew that if we continue on weB次元官网网址檙e going to cause damage,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淔ortunately, it didnB次元官网网址檛 go on any longer than it did. I think then we would have been in real trouble.B次元官网网址�

The union had been asking for a 15 per cent wage hike over three years.

Liquor retailers have said supply of some products was running dry, while some private cannabis retailers that also get stock through the Liquor Distribution Branch have been shutting down even though their staff are not part of the job action.

The privately owned stores have said the dispute meant they had no choice but to lay off workers or temporarily close.

The Retail Cannabis Council of BC thanked the BCGEU on Twitter.

B次元官网网址淥ur members are desperate for the relief and will hopefully see deliveries begin again swiftly,B次元官网网址� it said.

Jaclynn Pehota, the groupB次元官网网址檚 executive director, said last week that 70 per cent of legal pot stores in the province would have to shut if the job action continued past Tuesday and that 30 per cent of them were unlikely to reopen even after a resolution.

B次元官网网址擟amille Bains, The Canadian Press