Strike Notice Filed in Metro Vancouver Labour Dispute
Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees Union issues 72-hour notice; essential services will not be disrupted.
A union representing hundreds of Metro Vancouver employees issued a 72-hour strike notice Friday with the BC Labour Relations Board for possible job action as early as Sunday at 3:36 p.m.
The Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees Union said the notice was filed after the union and the regional district reached an impasse over workplace safety, contracting out protections, and recruitment measures. Union membership voted almost 98 percent in favour of authorizing job action in March.
The union says Metro Vancouver has not addressed its core concerns. The district countered that it has offered more than 10 percent in general wage increases over three years, plus a one-time increase of $0.25 on hourly pay rates next April.
Union president Jesse Medeiros said in a statement that talks were last held on April 13, with no further sessions scheduled. The last deal expired in December 2024 for the union's 600 members and 150 contract workers, who handle operations such as water, sewer and infrastructure services across Metro Vancouver.
The district says it remains committed to reaching a fair agreement. "Regardless of job action, there will be no disruption to essential services like drinking water, wastewater treatment, solid waste management, air quality monitoring, wildfire suppression, and housing," Metro Vancouver's statement says.