Victoria food truck operator says her business is ‘collateral damage’ in BCGEU strike

“This is a family-owned business and this is our only income,” says Amanda Large. “This is how I pay the rent and I pay the bills.”

As the B.C. General Employees’ Union escalates its strike action across the province, its president stood on the steps of the Royal B.C. Museum on Friday telling members that hope could be on the horizon.

The government has reached out to the union with an offer and talks will resume on Monday.

“My message to the premier is very simple: Let’s end this,” said Paul Finch, BCGEU president. “If there is a deal to be had we will get it.”

Amanda Large owns and operates a food truck called The Bannock Room on a space she rents from the museum. It is on those same front steps that the union held it’s Friday rally.

“This is a family-owned business and this is our only income,” said Large. “This is how I pay the rent and I pay the bills.”

As a result of the ongoing labour unrest, her business immediately landed behind the picket line. Her sales evaporated overnight and she quickly realized her food truck had become “collateral damage” as a result of the strike.

“Unfortunately I’ve pulled my food truck out of there, there has been a lot of noise,” said Large.

She has rented the space on the front steps of the museum for the past two years. Hers is one of two trucks that have a contract with the Royal B.C Museum.

“Me and the other food truck are losing about $2,000 to $4,000 a week,” said the food truck owner.

Large has been forced to pivot her business booking into small events around the Capital Region in an attempt to stay afloat. She says she is not taking any sides in the contract dispute.

“I think people do deserve fair wages and I think we also have to think about the money that we’re spending at the same time so I can kind of see both sides,” said Large. “I think that it’s not fair that the businesses are affected.”

“Picket lines will remain up and if we don’t see a fair deal we’re going to continue on that course to get one,” said Finch.

With talks set to resume early next week between the BCGEU and the province, Large hopes to get her space back as soon as possible. She knows for now she can’t go back to her space at the Royal B.C. Museum under the current situation.