Annual 'Grant's Law' sit-ins set for Vancouver and Victoria

Workers' rights advocates willrally in Vancouver and Victoria against changes to regulations that were brought in after the death of gas-station attendant Grant de Patie.

The British Columbia Federation of Labour's Young Workers' Committee will hold its annual overnight sit-in to mark the anniversary of the province's changes to the rules known as "Grant's Law."

The pay-before-you-pump rules were brought in after de Patie was dragged to his death in 2005 after trying to prevent a gas-and-dash robbery over $12.30 worth of fuel.

The B.C. Federation of Labour says the province bowed to pressure from the business community in 2012 and removed specific safety requirements from the regulations.

President Irene Lanzinger says the rules no longer require late-night workers to be physically separated from the public with a barrier or to work in pairs.

B.C. was the first province to enact regulations requiring drivers to pay at the pump before filling up and the death of a Calgary service-station worker last year has prompted calls for similar legislation in Alberta.