Civic talks collapse for Vancouver's inside workers

Library, outside workers' locals set to restart negotiations later this week

CBC News

Talks between the City of Vancouver and striking inside workers collapsed this weekend, but residents might still have a glimmer of hope that garbage collection could resume soon.

Negotiations are set for later this week with CUPE locals representing library workers as well as outside workers, including garbage collectors, road maintenance crews and park staff.

Following the breakdown of negotiations Saturday in Vancouver, city official accused CUPE Local 15, representing the inside workers, of demanding a 30-per cent wage hike in a five-year contract.

"What we needed was a reasonable, affordable offer," said spokesman Jerry Dobrovolny, "And frankly, 30 per cent over five years simply is absolutely not affordable for Vancouver taxpayers."

But Local 15 president Paul Faoro said the union is asking for a 20.5 per cent wage increase over five years, on par with other settlements in the Lower Mainland, including the deal reached in Richmond on July 23.

"I think that Richmond deal is key to this," Faoro said. "They did that by having some very tough negotiations, face-to-face negotiations, and, at the end of the day, both parties worked it out over the weekend. This is what the City of Vancouver is not doing."

The breakdown of talks is not the only sticky point in the current civic strike.

Mike Jackson, president of CUPE 1004 representing outside workers, said the city is in violation of the Labour Relations Code, because city managers have been picking up trash on Vancouver's beaches.

Only park board employees should be cleaning up after the fireworks, not city managers, said Jackson.

"It's the fact that city hall employees are working where they normally do not work," said Jackson. "They're not supposed to be operating any type of equipment that they normally would not operate."

The union will be taking its complaint to the Labour Relations Board within the next few days, Jackson said.

Civic workers in Burnaby, Delta and North Vancouver District will be holding talks with their respective cities this week.