The union representing Metro Vancouver’s outside workers has expanded its job action by withdrawing liquid waste systems forepersons and operators, citing concerns over an untreated sewage overflow event into Burrard Inlet and stalled contract negotiations.
The Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees’ Union (GVRDEU) announced on August 4 that liquid waste systems forepersons and operators have been withdrawn from their duties, with the exception of employees designated to provide essential services. The affected workers are based at Metro Vancouver’s Production Way Operations Centre in Burnaby.
The union said the move comes after negotiations with Metro Vancouver broke down again, leaving workers without a new collective agreement for 19 months.
GVRDEU president Jesse Medeiros alleged that an estimated 8.6 million litres of untreated sewage per day flowed into Vancouver Harbour through the Columbia Street Pumping Station near Crab Park between July 26 and July 29.
Subscribe to our Newsletter!
The latest environmental engineering news direct to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
According to the union, Metro Vancouver did not immediately notify the public or media about the overflow and only confirmed the incident after the union raised concerns.
“Metro Vancouver potentially jeopardized the health and safety of the public and our members who work with liquid waste systems by not promptly reporting this huge spill into Burrard Inlet,” Medeiros said, in an August 4 press release.
The union estimates the spill averaged roughly 360,000 litres per hour over the four-day period.
Medeiros also claimed the incident was the second major unreported sewage discharge within a month, referencing an earlier malfunction at the Iona Wastewater Treatment Plant that the union says resulted in millions of litres of untreated sewage and wastewater being discharged into the ocean.
The union alleges that changes made by management two years ago to the Columbia Street Pumping Station’s alarm response procedures contributed to the delay in detecting the spill. According to the GVRDEU, workers investigating health and safety concerns discovered that the sewage release had continued for several days before it was identified during a site visit.
“Our members are angry that Metro Vancouver acts like it’s situation normal when it’s clear they are unable to maintain the basic sewage treatment operations that the public expects and is paying for,” Medeiros said. “It’s time for Metro Vancouver’s elected Board of mayors and councillors to demand management get back to bargaining and reach a fair collective agreement.”
The union said outstanding bargaining issues include worker health and safety, contracting out of bargaining unit work, and recruitment and retention of skilled employees.
In an August 5 statement, Metro Vancouver announced that its current offer includes wage increases of more than 10% over three years, “which is consistent with other recently negotiated agreements in the region, including with our Teamsters union, and exceeds agreements reached by several other public sector employers.”
The region also stated that heavy rainfall and a pump malfunction led to the recent combined sewage overflow event.
The GVRDEU represents more than 750 Metro Vancouver employees who operate and maintain regional drinking water, wastewater, parks, housing and environmental protection services.
