Metro Vancouver outside workers end strike

Hundreds of Metro Vancouver outside workers walked off the job on Monday, June 15.

A full-scale strike by Metro Vancouver outside workers ended Monday afternoon, just hours after it began.

Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees’ Union President Jesse Medeiros said in a news release that the one-day strike achieved its goal of bringing attention to the labour dispute.

GVRDEU workers walked off the job Monday, with the exception of those designated as essential-service staff.

While the strike has ended, the two sides are still far apart on what happens next.

Metro Vancouver said in a news release that the union has agreed to mediation with the Labour Relations Board, with talks expected to “begin soon.”

In an email to CTV News, union spokesman Bill Tieleman responded saying that there is no agreement to return to talks “with or without a mediator.”

The union represents more than 700 workers covering operations in water and wastewater treatment, air quality tracking, natural resources, parks, infrastructure and ecological reserves across Metro Vancouver.

Medeiros confirmed that GVRDEU members will continue to work restricted hours at the 30 parks and greenways in the region, including Grouse Mountain and Pacific Spirit Park.

The union’s last agreement expired about 17 months ago.

With files from The Canadian Press.