GVRDEU and Metro Vancouver Accept Arbitrator Stephen Kelleher to Resolve Labour Dispute

Outside workers union GVRDEU and Metro Vancouver agree that former BC Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kelleher KC will be arbitrator to resolve bargaining dispute with binding interest arbitration; union ceases all job action at 1 p.m. Wednesday August 26

METRO VANCOUVER – The union for Metro Vancouver’s outside workers – the Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees’ Union – will cease all job action effective 1 p.m. Wednesday after both parties accepted former BC Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kelleher KC as arbitrator.

Kelleher is a veteran labour relations expert who has chaired the BC Labour Relations Board prior to joining the court and then returned to mediation and arbitration. He has accepted the assignment and will be responsible for resolving outstanding issues in the dispute, says Jesse Medeiros, president of the GVRDEU.

“Our union is glad that former Justice Kelleher was willing to accept this interest arbitration assignment from both GVRDEU and Metro Vancouver and we look forward to meeting with him and making submissions on the outstanding issues that were not resolved through bargaining and job action,” Medeiros said. “Justice Kelleher has a strong reputation for fairness and his lengthy experience will serve both parties well.”

Medeiros said the GVRDEU has ceased all job action effective 1 p.m. today, including overtime work, performing standby after-hours and/or acting role work.

“I want to thank our union members for holding strong in this dispute since it started in May and being patient as we took job action to get a new contract after 20-months without one,” Medeiros said. “We also want to thank the BC General Employees Union, the Vancouver and District and New Westminster and District Labour Councils, CUPE-BC, BC Federation of Labour, Teamsters Local 31, the West Vancouver Municipal Employees’ Association and the broader labour movement for their support.”

“I know our 750 members are eager to return to work for the public, providing valuable services like protecting water, air, and natural resources, providing drinking water, sewer, and infrastructure services and stewarding parks, ecological reserves, and housing communities,” he says. “GVRDEU members also appreciate the overwhelming public support we received during this dispute.”

Outstanding issues include improvements to health and safety, ending contracting out of union members’ work and better recruitment and retention of skilled workers, Medeiros said.

For More Information: Bill Tieleman, GVRDEU spokesperson, at cell: 778-896-0964; email: [email protected]  Website: https://gvrdeu.org