B.C. union calls for full-time remote work due to spiking gas prices

BURNABY — The BC General Employees’ Union is asking for provincially regulated employees to be allowed to work from home full-time due to high fuel prices.

The union, which represents 35,000 public service workers among more than 95,000 members, says in a statement that the temporary allowance would help alleviate the burden facing members due to gas prices that have surged amid the Iran war.

The union also says the province should look at ways to provide temporary relief for workers who must travel extensively in their jobs and can’t use public transport, especially if gas prices remain elevated.

In an email response, a spokesperson with the B.C. Ministry of Finance says the BC Public Service “has a well‑defined approach to flexible work” that allows employees to work remotely “up to full time” on a voluntary basis “where it is operationally feasible and mutually agreed to by the employee and employer.”

The province says about 70 per cent of Public Service workers have such telework deals in place as of January.

B.C.’s average price on GasBuddy.com jumped from around 130 cents a litre at the end of February to around 173 cents this week.

Union president Paul Finch says the move to keep public workers at home could also help B.C. reduce emissions and road congestion.

“The increasing price of gas places an undue burden on workers across the province,” Finch says in a statement. “The provincial government has an opportunity to help alleviate that burden by allowing workers the flexibility to work from home.”

The province says individual ministries “have the discretion to determine the extent to which they adopt flexible work arrangements within their specific operational contexts,” with priority given to service levels.

The union’s call coincides with a similar request to Canada’s governments by the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, which cited recommendations of the International Energy Agency.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2026.

The Canadian Press