Outside workers union takes new job action at Metro Vancouver sewage operations by withdrawing liquid waste systems forepersons and operators after major unreported sewage spill into Vancouver harbour last week; GVRDEU now 19 months without collective agreement; no talks scheduled
METRO VANCOUVER – The union for Metro Vancouver outside workers has taken new job action Tuesday by withdrawing liquid waste systems foreperson and system operators after a major and unreported sewage spill into Vancouver harbour and the breakdown of negotiations after 19 months without a contract.
Jesse Medeiros, Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees’ Union president, says the union’s members are particularly concerned after a massive sewage spill of an estimated 8.6 million litres a day were spilled untreated into Vancouver harbour in Burrard Inlet off Crab Park in Vancouver – and Metro Vancouver failed to report the health hazard to the public or media, only confirming the spill after the union raised their concerns.
“Metro Vancouver potentially jeopardized the health and safety of the public and our members who work with liquid waste systems by not promptly reporting this huge spill into Burrard Inlet starting Sunday July 26 and ending Wednesday July 29,” Medeiros said. “We estimate that there were possibly a minimum of 360,000 litres an hour spilling through the Columbia Street Pumping Station – that’s 8.6 million litres a day.”
“Not only it is completely unacceptable for Metro Vancouver to not warn the public and contact all possibly affected authorities about this sewage spill, but it was the second time in just one month this happened,” Medeiros says. “In early July, the Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant malfunctioned, and millions of litres of untreated sewage and wastewater were discharged into the ocean – and again Metro Vancouver only admitted it after the union blew the whistle!”
Medeiros said management made the decision in how they respond to alarm notifications at the pump station two years ago due to conflicting alarms from station equipment but did not set up a robust contingency alarm system, leading to the sewage spill continuing for days without being noticed until workers physically observed it on site. The union began investigating after members concerned about health and safety reported the incident.
Medeiros said because negotiations with Metro Vancouver have broken down again and members are in their 19th month without a contract and given the second major unreported sewage spill into the ocean, the union is today focusing attention on the important work GVRDEU liquid waste system operators do by pulling them off the job, except for essential services designated workers. The workers are based out of Metro Vancouver’s Production Way Operations Centre in Burnaby.
“Our members are angry that Metro Vancouver acts like its situation normal when it’s clear they are unable to maintain the basic sewage treatment operations that the public expects and is paying for,” Medeiros said. “It’s time for Metro Vancouver’s elected Board of mayors and councillors to demand management get back to bargaining and reach a fair collective agreement.”
Medeiros said the remaining issues remaining in dispute include worker health and safety, contracting out of bargaining unit work and recruitment and retention of skilled workers at Metro Vancouver.
Over 750 GVRDEU members operate and maintain regional services, such as protecting water, air, and natural resources, providing drinking water, sewer, and infrastructure services and stewarding parks, ecological reserves, and housing communities.
For More Information: Bill Tieleman, GVRDEU spokesperson, at cell: 778-896-0964; email: [email protected] Website: https://gvrdeu.org
