In Metro Vancouver, job action by unionized outside workers may impact the dredging activities in Burrard Inlet to make way for larger vessels. The Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees’ Union reported that its members are on strike, setting up picket lines at two water main projects in Vancouver and North Vancouver. Completion of these projects is crucial before dredging can begin under the Second Narrows Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in September.

The dredging initiative, endorsed by the federal government, aims to enable oil tankers to carry larger loads through the waterway. The ongoing picketing could potentially disrupt project timelines, and the district is open to further mediated negotiations to seek a resolution.

The contract dispute between the outside workers and the regional district has been ongoing for 19 months, resulting in various job actions, including strikes in non-essential roles. Despite the union’s willingness to support major projects, negotiations with Metro Vancouver have not yielded an agreement, leading to an escalation in job actions, such as halting the Burrard Inlet dredging.

Metro Vancouver is collaborating with contractors and utilizing exempt personnel to minimize any project delays. Mediated bargaining concluded on July 22, with the district proposing a 10 percent wage increase over three years, aligning with recent settlements, including those with the Teamsters union.

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority acknowledged the job action and its potential impact on the Second Narrows dredging works, currently in the pre-construction phase.