Dear Members,
We are providing an update following our last mediation session with Metro Vancouver at the Labour Relations Board (LRB) and our July 22nd correspondence to the membership.
Your Bargaining Committee remains ready to return to the table when the Employer is prepared to engage meaningfully on the outstanding issues. However, after a week with no indication that the Employer was ready to respond to the Union’s July 22nd offer, the Union notified the appointed LRB mediator on July 29th that we were formally requesting binding arbitration.
The mediator confirmed to both parties the next day, of the Union’s proposal for binding arbitration, and that the Employer has no interest in binding arbitration and is prepared to continue with the current process. The mediator advised he remains available if mediation would assist the parties in reaching a tentative agreement.
We firmly believe the Employer’s unwillingness to negotiate on key member priorities: including health and safety, contracting out, and wage adjustments needed to address recruitment and retention, has brought the parties to an impasse.
The Union remains committed to reaching a collective agreement and has taken steps to reinitiate job action to encourage Metro Vancouver to return to the table and make a genuine effort to conclude negotiations.
We will update the membership as soon as possible on any progress, or if members’ united support is needed to escalate job action and secure the contract our members deserve.
In solidarity,
GVRDEU Bargaining Committee
