Dear Members,
We are writing to update you on the three days of mediation provided by the BC Labour Relations Board (BC-LRB) to assist with the current round of negotiations with the Employer.
Since February 2026, Metro Vancouver has requested that the Union agree to use the services of the BC-LRB, as it believed the parties required assistance with the collective bargaining process. Once the Union agreed to mediation and the decision was finalized on June 15, 2026, mediation dates were scheduled for June 25, 28, 29 and 30.
After three full days of assisted mediation, the appointed mediator decided to pause the negotiation process for the interim, allowing both parties time to reassess their positions. The mediator has set aside the dates of July 11 – 14 if the parties can find a path forward to conclude this round of bargaining.
The Union’s Bargaining Committee wants to advise GVRDEU members that the Employer:
- is seeking concessions
- is not offering the increases to benefits as the local municipalities have negotiated across the region
- is not prepared to negotiate the full list of important items identified by the membership.
These important items were developed for bargaining and confirmed by members as critical priorities for the Union, including:
- health and safety;
- contracting out work; and
- recruitment and retention issues
The GVRDEU Bargaining Committee will not accept Metro Vancouver’s refusal to negotiate these important issues, nor will it stop pursuing collective agreement language that protects workers’ rights to:
- work in a safe working environment;
- ensure a sustainable workforce is in place to provide the critical infrastructure services the Metro Vancouver public expects from its regional government; and
- stop the waste of public funds on contractor use for services Metro Vancouver has historically provided in-house.
We call on Metro Vancouver Board members to fulfill their public mandate by governing this public corporation responsibly. They must direct Metro Vancouver management to negotiate a fair and amicable agreement that addresses the concerns of Metro Vancouver workers.
In solidarity,
GVRDEU Bargaining Committee
