Dear Members,
As we are scheduled to participate in mediated bargaining starting Saturday, July 11, followed by additional sessions on July 12 and 13, we wanted to provide members with an update before negotiations resume.
As mentioned previously, to date the employer continues to:
- Seek concessions
- Not offering increases benefits as the local municipalities have negotiated across the region
- Not prepared to negotiate full list of important items identified by the membership
The GVRDEU Bargaining Committee will not accept Metro Vancouver’s refusal to negotiate these important items. They must return to the bargaining table with a genuine commitment to address these critical issues members have raised.
If the Employer is unwilling to reach a fair agreement with the Union during this round of mediated negotiations, the next step will be a full-scale indefinite strike. This will affect all Metro Vancouver workplaces until a new collective agreement is achieved.
After 18 months without a contract and no serious progress, this is where we are: either we get a deal, or they face a full-scale strike at all Metro Vancouver workplaces.
Your Bargaining Committee remains fully committed to negotiating a fair and reasonable collective agreement that reflects the priorities of the membership and addresses the key issues raised throughout this round of bargaining. We will continue to bargain in good faith and will not stop advocating for the improvements our members deserve.
In solidarity,
GVRDEU Bargaining Committee
