Metro Vancouver outside workers escalate job action to full-scale strike

Outside workers in Metro Vancouver have launched a full-scale strike, escalating job action after weeks of rotating pickets. The walkout, which began Monday, involves all members of the Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees’ Union, except for those designated as essential service staff.

The union represents over 700 workers responsible for crucial operations across Metro Vancouver. These include water and wastewater treatment, air quality monitoring, management of natural resources, parks, infrastructure, and ecological reserves. The union is urging residents to avoid approximately 30 regional parks and greenways, as most district employees there will not be working.

This escalation comes after 17 months without a contract. Union president Jesse Medeiros stated that frontline service members are frustrated with management's perceived stalling and incompetence, necessitating this strong action to compel bargaining without preconditions. Metro Vancouver management claims they have offered restart dates, a statement the union disputes. No new talks are currently scheduled.

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Our frontline service members have been without a contract for 17 months and they are fed up with Metro Vancouver management stalling and incompetence, so we unfortunately have to take this strong action to get them back to bargaining without preconditions.