Metro Vancouver outside workers escalate to full-scale strike
Over 700 union members walked off Monday after 17 months without a contract. Regional parks and greenways are shutting down.
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Metro Vancouver's 700+ outside workers launched a full-scale strike Monday after rotating pickets failed to restart contract negotiations.
Members of the Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees' Union walked off the job, except for essential-service staff designated by the union. The last contract expired in December 2024—17 months without a deal.
The strike affects operations across the metro region: water and wastewater treatment, air quality tracking, natural resources, parks, infrastructure, and ecological reserves. The union is asking residents to avoid 30 regional parks and greenways, including Grouse Mountain Regional Park, the Grouse Grind trail, Pacific Spirit Park in Vancouver, and Burnaby Lake Regional Park.
Union president Jesse Medeiros said workers will decide Monday whether to continue the full-scale strike or pursue other job actions to force talks. "Our front-line service members have been without a contract for 17 months and they are fed up with Metro Vancouver management stalling and incompetence," he said.
Metro Vancouver said it offered 10 restart dates last week and has suggested mediation, which it does not consider a precondition. The union disputes the claim, saying management is imposing preconditions.