The union representing Metro Vancouver’s outside workers says it has agreed to resume negotiations with its employer.
Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees’ Union (GVRDEU) members walked off the job Monday morning in a full-scale strike, following weeks of ramped-up job action, with rotating strikes at water treatment plants, watersheds, and local parks.
The negotiations are moving ahead with the help of a mediator from the BC Labour Relations Board (LRB), without preconditions, the GVRDEU said late Monday evening.
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“This is a welcome first step, but not a conclusion, to 17 months without a new collective agreement and after escalating job action up to a full-scale strike on Monday,” said union president Jesse Medeiros.
“Without significant job action against Metro Vancouver over the past four weeks, and especially a full-scale strike on Monday, we would not have gotten to this point.”
He says, however, the dispute is “far from over,” and the union reserves the right to return to job action unless members’ concerns are addressed.
“Better health and safety, ending contracting out bargaining unit work, and improved recruitment and retention of our skilled workers are critical to a new collective agreement.”
The union says it is waiting for the LRB to propose mediation dates and will announce them once they have been determined.
We have reached out to Metro Vancouver for further comment.