Metro Vancouver transit workers escalate job action over contract talks
Parks closed and specialized rescue teams off duty as union ramps up pressure on regional government over pay, safety, and contracting concerns.
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Metro Vancouver's over 750 outside workers are escalating job action after mediation sessions failed to produce a contract agreement. On Sunday, July 5, all 25 regional parks—including Grouse Mountain—closed as staff walked off, though they have since returned. On Monday, July 6, 26 members of Metro Vancouver's specialized Technical Rescue Teams (TRT) went off duty, though the union says members will rejoin if a confined-space emergency occurs.
The dispute centers on health and safety provisions, preventing the contracting out of union work, and recruitment and retention of skilled workers. The Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees' Union (GVRDEU) has been in job action since May 24. A full-scale strike began June 15 before the union accepted a mediation offer from the BC Labour Relations Board.
"Our members are an integral component of Metro Vancouver's Technical Rescue Teams, providing important engineering and other skills and knowledge in a confined space situation," GVRDEU President Jesse Medeiros said. "Eighteen months without a contract for them and over 700 other workers is unacceptable."
Metro Vancouver management says their offer includes a wage increase of more than 10 per cent over three years and that they have no preconditions. The union disputes this, saying management has demanded concessions and shown no interest in negotiating fairly. Another mediation session is tentatively planned for Saturday, July 11, though union leadership has expressed skepticism about participating.
