Outside workers union GVRDEU to shut down of Metro Vancouver watermain tie-in that could delay Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Burrard Inlet critical dredging project to allow larger oil tankers to take bigger cargoes under Second Narrows Ironworkers Memorial bridge
METRO VANCOUVER – The dredging of the Burrard Inlet to allow larger oil tankers to transport bigger cargoes under the Second Narrows Ironworkers Memorial Bridge could be delayed as Metro Vancouver’s unionized workers take job action against a critical watermain tie-in needed to be completed before dredging.
The Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees’ Union will remove its workers and set up picket lines Tuesday to shut down work on the Seymour Main No. 2 Repair Project and the BV 5 Decommission Project in North Vancouver – two projects that need to be completed before the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s dredging of Burrard Inlet can take place.
Jesse Medeiros, GVRDEU president, says the union is ramping up job action at key projects because negotiations with Metro Vancouver management are completely stalled and no talks scheduled despite the expiry of the collective agreement 19 months ago.
“GVRDEU members are fed up, they are angry and they are willing to keep increasing job action to affect critical projects – including dredging Burrard Inlet for oil tanker traffic – because we can’t get Metro Vancouver to come back to negotiations with a new and fair contract proposal – and we’re done,” says Medeiros. “If it takes job action that impacts major projects and disrupts municipal elections in October, that’s on Metro Vancouver, not its workers.”
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has identified the Burrard Inlet dredging to remove 25,000 cubic meters of material as critical to increasing oil tanker capacity from 80 per cent to 100 percent and must be done between August 2026 and February 2027 due to potential impact on fish and fish habitat and the Port is pressuring Metro Vancouver to complete water main tie-ins needed before dredging can take place, Medeiros said.
“The union is not interested in stopping major federal, provincial or municipal projects but our priority is a new collective agreement and Metro Vancouver has consistently refused to meet our members’ concerns over health and safety, recruitment and retention of skilled workers and contracting out bargaining unit work,” Medeiros said.
“Until we negotiate and ratify a new contract, this union will escalate job action, including shutting down projects like Burrard Inlet dredging,” he added.
Picket lines will be established at the following work sites:
• Seymour Main No.2 Butt Strap Repair Project – 100 Block Riverside Dr. North Vancouver
• BV5 Decommission Project – Harbour Rd &. Riverside Dr. North Vancouver
• Annacis Water Main No.5 North – New Westminster Section – 500 Block 13th St. New Westminster
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
