Bulletin
ICBC – Update for ICBC members on the current public sector strike
September 4, 2025
To: All MoveUP members at ICBC
As you know, public sector workers represented by the British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) and the Professional Employees Association (PEA) have been on strike at selective locations throughout BC since Tuesday, September 2.
The members of BCGEU and PEA are fighting for a fair collective agreement that includes wage improvements that fairly reflects the value of what public sector workers bring to our communities. Their fight will have a very real impact on our bargaining with ICBC as their deal will impact what happens for your next collective agreement.
That is why it is imperative for our members to support the BCGEU and PEA members in their job action.
You can learn more about their bargaining priorities by clicking here.
What our team has been working on
Since the strike began on Tuesday, our team has been focused on supporting our members who work out of the Guildford Corporate Centre (GCC), including the Guildford Driver Licensing Office.
GCC is one of several common sites where our ICBC members share an address with members of the BCGEU and/or PEA. It was one of the sites that the BCGEU/PEA chose to picket, which meant that our members were unable to access their physical workplace despite not technically being on strike.
You can learn more about why it is important to respect the picket lines of other union members by clicking here.
Supporting MoveUP members and demonstrating solidarity
As we stated, supporting the BCGEU and PEA members in this fight is extremely important for us because it will have an impact on our collective bargaining down the road.
However, it is important for us to also recognize that this is the BCGEU’s and PEA’s strike. They have asked for our support, but we need to ensure we do not overstep our boundaries and make rash decisions that could undermine their strategy. Making a decision that affects public perception negatively could potentially undermine their strike, so we have been in very close contact with them about the actions we take.
Our priority, first and foremost, is supporting MoveUP members who are affected, and doing so in a manner that ensures our members won’t be unreasonably impacted or disciplined, while still standing in full support of the BCGEU and PEA members.
We have heard from some members that they have received threats of discipline from ICBC managers if they refuse to cross the picket line. We want you to know that we will support our members unequivocally and stand up for your workers’ right, including your right to support union members who are fighting to improve working conditions for themselves and for all of us by respecting their picket line.
Our approach will continue to adjust to fit the situation as it evolves, but our main priority is to ensure that MoveUP members are supported.
We want all our members to know that both the BCGEU and PEA leadership have been extremely thankful for our actions since the start of their strike and have expressed their deepest appreciation to MoveUP and our members for their solidarity.
More of your questions answered
We have put together a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page on our website that will be continually updated as the situation progresses.
You can access the FAQ page here or click on the link on the ICBC workplace page.
Next steps
We will provide more information to you as the situation progresses. We encourage you to keep your information updated with us by logging into your Member Portal account.
We will use both emails and text messages to keep our members informed during this situation.
Thank you for your support as we navigate this fluid and challenging situation.
In solidarity,
Annette Toth, President
Dimitri Ossinsky, Vice-President, ICBC