City activates strike plan; More than 5,000 Vancouver employees likely to be off job by tomorrow
The Province
July 22, 2007
By: Lena Sin
EXCERPT

More than 5,000 Vancouver municipal workers are expected to be off the job by the end of tomorrow, bringing everything from daycare, garbage collection, rock concerts, libraries and Canada Line construction to an indefinite halt….

Mayor Sam Sullivan made it clear he was not interested in returning to the bargaining table over the weekend -- and directed city manager Judy Rogers on Friday to implement the contingency plan, outlining a list of priority services that would be maintained during a city-wide strike…

Spokesmen for the Canadian Union of Public Employees said they were shocked the city refused to resume bargaining.

"It's becoming very clear who is wanting a strike in the city," said Paul Faoro, president of CUPE Local 15, which represents inside workers. "We were really sincere and serious about [bargaining] through the weekend."….

What is affected:

- Garbage collection

- City-run daycamps and daycares….

- Community centres and adjoining gyms.

- Five outdoor pools (Mt. Pleasant, New Brighton, Sunset, Second Beach and Kitsilano)…