The first strike day by government workers wasn’t defined by the location or size of its picket lines on Tuesday, but by the political muscle that showed up to help it push back against the New Democrat government.

Leaders from the BC Teachers’ Federation, BC Nurses’ Union, BC Federation of Labour and Canadian Union of Public Employees travelled to Victoria to attend BC General Employees’ Union president Paul Finch’s opening strike rally.

“Thank you for your support,” said Finch, who highlighted attendees like BCNU president Adriene Gear. “We’re going to be there to support you.”

The solidarity is an early sign that the BC NDP government may find it harder to divide and conquer the organized labour movement than it first thought.

New Democrats were quite hopeful they’d cracked the code last week after getting the Hospital Employees’ Union to break ranks with its brothers and sisters and agree to a “framework” deal for wage increases far below what the BCGEU is fighting for.

Premier David Eby’s administration wanted other unions to also........

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