Attention: GVRDEU Members

We want to quickly update you on bargaining with our Employer, Metro Vancouver.

Despite pushing the Employer to set new bargaining dates immediately after our last session on March 18, Metro Vancouver has said it cannot meet before April 2 at the earliest.

At that March 18 session, the Employer made a counterproposal to the Union’s February 12 proposal that fell short of the premium and benefits improvements that other Metro Vancouver municipal bargaining units have secured.

In addition, key non‑monetary items, such as language addressing worker safety, protection against contracting out bargaining‑unit work, and measures to support recruitment and retention, were notably absent from the Employer’s proposal.

As a result, and in hopes of reaching a deal, your Union quickly responded that day with a counteroffer addressing our concerns while attempting to keep the Employer moving towards a new collective agreement.

Unfortunately, the Employer did not accept our counteroffer.  And while claiming it wants to keep talking with the Union, it will not make itself available until April 2 at the earliest.

That date is unacceptable, as we have a long-scheduled Essential Services hearing with the BC Labour Relations Board on April 2, so in the event that job action is necessary, there is an agreement in place. Since essential services levels were last established in 2023, the Employer is attempting to greatly increase the Essential Services staffing levels. This is something that would dramatically reduce the impact of job action if necessary.

That’s why we offered to meet before April 2 but refused to cancel the LRB Essential Services hearing.

We have again requested additional dates for negotiations from the Employer but as of today (March 23), no further dates had been provided.

Let’s be crystal clear: Metro Vancouver’s Labour Relations Department (Human Resources and RES 360), are more than adequately staffed, in fact over-staffed. It is simply unbelievable that they cannot make it a top priority to find negotiating dates with our Union! 

This Employer has essentially attempted to limit negotiations to just twice a month, which means there is no productive path towards reaching a deal, even though our collective agreement expired December 31, 2024!

Rest assured, your Union is committed to reaching a new contract with integrity and in good faith, that addresses your needs and that is a fair deal for its members.

In Solidarity,

GVRDEU Bargaining Committee