Condo towers in Burnaby, B.C., line the skyline as fog blankets Metro Vancouver, on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER — Unionized workers in Metro Vancouver who oversee drinking water, wastewater treatment, air quality and other important jobs across more than 20 municipalities are taking full-scale strike action starting Monday.

The union representing more than 700 Metro Vancouver outside workers says all non-essential staff will walk off their jobs, although those who are designated as essential service will remain at work.

Jesse Medeiros, the president of the Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees’ Union, said in a news release Friday that members are "angry and frustrated" after 17 months without a contract, and Metro Vancouver's management is ignoring their concerns.

"GVRDEU members are the front-line workers that keep Metro Vancouver running and we are sick and tired of management incompetence and disrespect,” Medeiros said.

"Taxpayers and the elected mayors and councillors on Metro Vancouver’s Board should be demanding better — starting with getting a new contract with our members and then fixing the problems management has created.”

Metro Vancouver said in a statement on Friday that it "respects the right to lawful job action and remains focused on reaching a fair and sustainable agreement."

It said it is ready to negotiate with the help of a mediator and has proposed 10 dates to restart talks with the union.

The regional district said bringing in a mediator would be a "practical step" after nearly a year of bargaining.

It said the latest offer to workers includes a wage bump of more than 10 per cent over three years, in line with other recent labour agreements, and that it goes over and above other public sector agreements.

Metro Vancouver said it wanted to reassure residents that services won't be disrupted during the strike.

The union accuses the regional district of setting preconditions before contract talks can resume, which Metro Vancouver has denied.

Rotating pickets have been set up by the union over the last few weeks.

Medeiros said the public would notice the full-scale strike immediately, with unionized staff walking off their jobs in regional parks, at water and wastewater treatment plants, construction sites, and elsewhere.

“We regret the inconvenience to the public and appreciate their support in this dispute, but we can’t wait forever to get a new contract for our members,” Medeiros said.

The union also said workers would rally at the Metro Vancouver headquarters in Burnaby on Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2026.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2026