Metro Vancouver outdoor workers escalate job action, say ‘full-scale indefinite strike’ is next

The union representing Metro Vancouver’s outside workers says members are “significantly” escalating their job action Friday, adding time is running out to avoid a full-scale, indefinite strike.

Jessie Medeiros, president of the Greater Vancouver Regional District Employee Union (GVRDEU), says three days of mediation with the Labour Relations Board (LRB) are set to begin Saturday.

He says workers have been without a contract for 18 months, and this is the last chance for a negotiated settlement before a full-scale walk-out.

“This is the end of the line. Our members are frustrated, angry, and tired of having Metro Vancouver management ignore their serious concerns about health and safety, contracting out, and retention and recruitment of skilled workers,” Medeiros said.

“They want a new contract and will walk out to get it.”

In a statement, Metro Vancouver said it has one of the strongest workplace health and safety records in B.C. As well, it says it is actively working to reduce reliance on external contractors and consultants.

It says it has offered wage increases of more than 10 per cent over three years, which it says is consistent with other, recently negotiated agreements, including with the Teamsters union.

Medeiros says mayors and councillors on the Metro Vancouver board have the power to avoid the strike, but have not exercised their authority over management.

“There is no more time for excuses or avoidance – this is crunch time if they don’t want a strike.”

Last week, unionized workers walked off the job at 25 regional parks. Now, the union says job action is being expanded to head office, the housing corporation, wastewater treatment plants, and operations.

He says the union will still maintain services the LRB has designated as essential — but almost all workers will be involved if a full-scale strike takes place.

“There are just 15 workers designated as essential for all 25 regional parks, for example, when ordinarily about 100 of our members are on the job each day,” Medeiros said.

“It’s similar for most other Metro Vancouver operations, and when we go out, it’s up to management staff not trained for these jobs to fill in. There aren’t enough of them to go around.”

Metro Vancouver says it has contingency plans in place to maintain essential services.

In a statement, the GVRDEU says members are angry at Metro Vancouver management’s “incompetence” while still collecting high salaries.

“Management are paid up to $560,000 a year, and yet it’s our members and taxpayers who are picking up the bill for the disastrous North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant overrun of $3.1 billion, from a $700 million budget to $3.8 billion,” he said.

“Taxpayers are stuck with up to $700 extra a year in taxes for 20 years or more.”

He says between 2019 and 2024, management salaries and benefits have increased by 69 per cent.

Metro Vancouver says wage increases for exempt staff have been the same as union increases.

“More than 60 per cent of exempt staff (which union refer to as management) are professional engineers,” Metro Vancouver said in a statement.

“Fewer than 20 per cent of exempt staff are in management roles. Increases to exempt wages are due to Metro Vancouver expanding its in-house engineering capacity since 2019 to deliver major infrastructure needed to maintain critical systems, support regional growth, and meet regulatory requirements.”

The union says the new job action sites, as of Friday, are:

• Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation;
• Head office at Metrotower III;
• Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plant;
• LWS Maintenance Services at Annacis Island Wastewater Treatment Plant; and
• WS & LWS Maintenance Services at Lake City Operations Centre.

Members will continue to withdraw at the South Fraser Construction Yard and Annacis Liquid Waste Services Civil Maintenance Yard, the GVRDEU says.