Metro Vancouver has confirmed that the union representing its outside workers has agreed to enter mediation, even as members began full-scale strike action aimed at pressuring the employer to return to meaningful negotiations.
According to a statement from the regional district, the Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees’ Union has agreed to mediation under the Labour Relations Board. Authorities described this step as a practical mechanism intended to help both sides move closer to a resolution and make tangible progress in ongoing bargaining discussions.
The development comes after several weeks of rotating job actions, which escalated on Monday when union members walked off the job in a coordinated strike. Only employees designated as essential-service staff have remained on duty during the escalation.
The union represents more than 700 workers responsible for key public services across Metro Vancouver. Their responsibilities include water and wastewater treatment operations, air quality monitoring, natural resource management, parks maintenance, infrastructure services, and the stewardship of ecological reserves throughout the region.
While both parties now enter mediation, the situation reflects continued pressure within essential public service sectors as labour disputes intensify and operational continuity is tested across critical regional infrastructure systems.
