I am providing an update following our last correspondence on August 12th.

The Union recently received communication from the Employer on two matters: the status of collective bargaining and the Employer’s retaliatory response to the Union’s lawful strike action.

Employer Response to the August 12 Bargaining Update

The Employer has objected to our August 12 bargaining update and is seeking a correction. In particular, the Employer takes issue with our statement that “we are ready to return to the bargaining table at any time when the Employer is prepared to provide its counter to the Union’s last proposal.”

The Employer appears to suggest that its July 14 proposal, reissued without substantive changes, should be treated as a genuine counterproposal to the Union’s July 22 proposal. The Union disagrees. Meaningful progress cannot be made when the Employer simply recycles its previous proposal instead of engaging in practical solutions. We stand by the accuracy of our August 12 bargaining update.

Employer Withholding of Union Dues

The Employer has also taken the position that the Union should compensate it for employee benefit costs dating back to May 24, when the Union commenced lawful strike action. The Employer has sought payment from the Union for member benefits during job action, including periods when members refused overtime, acting assignments, or standby work.

After receiving the Employer’s invoice on July 29, the Union notified the Employer within 15 days that it would not agree to pay employee benefit costs during job action and would not pay the submitted invoice. The Union has maintained that position in subsequent correspondence.

Metro Vancouver has now withheld the Union dues it collects from members’ pay, amounting to approximately in excess of $60,000. The Union disputes that the Employer has authority to do that and has demanded the return of the dues owing. The Union says that if the Employer wishes to recover benefit payments from the Union, it must seek authority from the Court. The Union will shortly be filing a claim against Metro Vancouver for wrongfully withholding Union dues.
Collective Bargaining Update #25 August 20, 2026

Correspondence to Metro Vancouver Board Members

On August 18, the Union sent a second letter to Metro Vancouver Board members to provide an accurate account of recent developments, including:
• The Union’s proposal to resolve the dispute through binding arbitration, which the Employer declined.
• The Employer’s request for permission to apply for a “last offer vote” from the Minister of Labour, which was ultimately declined.
• The need for the Employer to return to the bargaining table with a genuine counterproposal if it truly wants to conclude this round of collective bargaining.
• The ongoing operational impacts and disruption to essential services after 12 weeks of job action, including untreated sewer spills into Georgia Strait and Vancouver Harbour.
• The rapid increase in employee resignation notices, which is affecting the Union’s ability to maintain qualified bargaining unit members at the essential service levels set by the Labour Relations Board order.
• The re-initiation of job action because the Employer has shown no meaningful initiative to return to the bargaining table.
• Metro Vancouver management’s withholding of Union dues without legal authority.
• The Union’s respectful request that Metro Vancouver Board members, who are viewed by the public as the Employer, provide leadership, take ownership of the dispute, and help bring it to a fair resolution before the municipal elections in October.

The Union will update the membership as soon as possible if there is any change in the Employer’s position or when we receive a response from the Metro Vancouver Board members.

I want to thank members for their assistance in securing the contract our members deserve.

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