Picket lines by British Columbia’s public service employees are expanding to 22 sites involving more than 4,000 workers in an escalation of their labour dispute with the province.

Among the new picket locations are government offices and other sites in Nanaimo, Kamloops, Kelowna, Cranbrook, Nelson, Fort St. John and Smithers, adding to previous locations in Surrey, Victoria and Vancouver.

The B.C. General Employees’ Union says air-quality concerns due to wildfire smoke in Prince George and Williams Lake mean there will be “virtual pickets” there until further notice.

The expansion comes after the province released details of its offer to striking workers, proposing a 4.5 per cent compensation boost over two years including cost-of-living allowances.

The Ministry of Finance says the uni

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