Union leader says City of Vancouver knew before collective agreement was completed that they 'intended to eliminate hundreds of members' positions, and that was deceitful and unfair to not share all the information'

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

The City of Vancouver is being accused of unfair labour practices in a formal complaint by a union representing thousands of municipal workers.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Postmedia has learned that CUPE Local 15, which represents more than 4,000 employees with the city, park board, and community centres, filed a complaint with the B.C. Labour Relations Board on Dec. 24, alleging that during last year’s collective bargaining negotiations, the city withheld important information about coming job cuts.

The union says the city violated the Labour Relations Code by “intentionally withholding important information about its plans to implement far-reaching workforce reductions until after bargaining had concluded and the collective agreement had been ratified,” CUPE 15 acting president Santino Scardillo told Postmedia in an email Friday. “In doing so, it breached its duty to bargain in good faith.”

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

“We believe the city intentionally withheld critical information during bargaining,” Scardillo said. “They knew they intended to eliminate hundreds of members’ positions, and that was deceitful and unfair to not share all the information.”

CUPE alleges that city management knew as early as June 2025 about potential job cuts. At that time, the union and the city were actively engaged in collective bargaining, and CUPE says the city ought to have disclosed such information.

The city........

© Vancouver Sun