The labor union representing outside workers in Metro Vancouver has announced that both parties involved in an ongoing contract dispute have agreed to enter into binding arbitration. The Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees’ Union disclosed that the workers and the regional district have formally agreed on the terms of reference for the arbitration process. According to a statement by the union, the next step will be to mutually select an arbitrator.
Metro Vancouver has confirmed this development and is collaborating with the union to promptly appoint an arbitrator and resolve the dispute. Unionized outside workers have been engaging in job actions for several months, with picket lines appearing at regional parks, water treatment facilities, and Metro Vancouver headquarters, among other locations. The lack of a contract between the two parties has persisted for close to 20 months.
The outstanding issues to be addressed through binding arbitration, as outlined in the union’s statement, pertain to enhancements in health and safety standards, the outsourcing of unionized work, and the recruitment and retention of skilled labor. President Jesse Medeiros mentioned that workers will uphold certain job actions, such as an overtime ban, until an arbitrator is selected to handle the case.