Attention Members,

We are writing to update you on what has taken place over the past two weeks since our last notice. Counsel for
Metro Vancouver and the Union have been meeting, with assistance from the BC Labour Relations Board (BC LRB),
to finalize Essential Service Designation (ESD) levels and address the Employer’s bad faith bargaining complaint.
While the ESD process is nearing completion, a few outstanding essential service issues required a hearing before
the BC LRB. The BC LRB appointed Vice-Chair Paul Todd to hear both parties’ positions on Thursday, April 23rd, and
directed that written closing arguments be completed and submitted to the Vice-Chair by Friday, May 1st. The Vice-
Chair expects to provide a bottom-line decision to the parties by Friday, May 8th.

As previously noted, no strike or lockout by either party can occur until the essential services order is finalized. If
the Union determines that strike action is necessary, we will issue a strike notice once the essential services order
is in place.

Regarding the Employer’s unfair labour practice complaint, on Friday April 24th, alongside our counsel, we
participated in a joint conference call with the Employer’s counsel and the BC LRB’s appointed Vice-Chair, Sherry
Shir. The purpose of the call was to address the Union’s disclosure request that the Employer provide its full
bargaining notes to support its allegation of bad faith bargaining by the Union. After hearing both parties’
positions, the Vice-Chair ordered that the Employer’s bargaining notes for the referenced sessions be provided to
the Union in full, no later than 4:00 p.m. on April 27th.

With the Vice-Chair’s assistance, the parties also established an agreed submission schedule for the coming weeks.
As stated previously, we strongly disagree with the Employer’s allegation of bad faith bargaining, and our counsel
is responding to the complaint accordingly.

With respect to Metro Vancouver’s position calling an impasse, we received an email on April 24th from the
Employer’s lead negotiator, Paul Reniers. In his message, he advised that Metro Vancouver’s bargaining team
would hold five specific dates over the next several weeks and make themselves available for bargaining, on the
condition, that the Union return to the table only after conceding on the last counter proposal provided to the
Employer on April 13th.

The Union responded to the Employer, that we do not believe collective bargaining would serve any purpose
under those conditions.

In summary, the Union’s bargaining committee remains available and ready to meet when the Employer is
prepared to resume bargaining without imposed conditions.

In Solidarity,
GVRDEU Bargaining Committee