Municipal Labour Dispute 2025
On Wednesday night, we received confirmation that CUPE Local 2269 members voted to ratify the tentative Collective Agreement that bargaining teams on both sides agreed to on Tuesday. The District very much looks forward to welcoming its unionized employees back to work Thursday morning.
Read the full District statement.
Current Operational and Service Impacts (check daily for updates)
- Brennan Park Recreation Centre, including public washrooms, is open.
- The ice arena and pool remain closed. A timeline for reopening the pool and arena will be established once certified unionized employees return to their roles and engage in the reopening plan.
- Program updates will be provided following unionized employees return to work.
- Booking requests are now being accepted.
- Aquatics program registration remains delayed.
- Turf and grass fields, including portable and fieldhouse building washrooms, are open.
- The 55+ Activity Centre is open during regular operating hours (Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended programming until 9 p.m. Wednesday evenings
- Booking requests are now being accepted.
- Program updates will be provided once unionized employees return to work.
- View the daily schedule at squamish.ca/seniors for a list of offered programs.
- View the daily schedule at squamish.ca/seniors.
- Municipal Hall is open.
- In-person financial payments are being accepted.
- Processing times for applications such as business licences, building permits, planning and environmental permitting applications may be delayed.
- Film and event permit applications are now being accepted.
Background:
On September 29, 2025 the District of Squamish received strike notice from CUPE 2269, the Bargaining Unit representing approximately 250 employees of the District.
The Union began job action on October 2 and widespread job action began across all facilities on October 16, which included a District lockout of some departments/facilities.
The parties agreed to enter non-binding mediation through the Labour Relations Board of BC, that began October 24. A tentative agreement was reached October 28 and was ratified by Council later that day. CUPE Local 2269 members ratified the agreement on October 29, ending the labour dispute.
Work deemed as essential services were never disrupted during job action or lockout. Essential services are those that are necessary to maintain the health and safety of the community. These include services such as water and sewer treatment, and fire and police protection.
***
The Collective Agreement between the District and CUPE 2269 (the “Parties”) expired on December 31, 2024. The District bargaining team has been at the table with the Union since October 2024. Negotiations progressed until the Union indicated that the Parties were at impasse on July 4, 2025. The Union walked away from the bargaining table stating that they did not believe the District had proposed sufficient wage increases. Bargaining resumed October 1.
Employee wages are funded by taxation and utility fees, and the District is responsible to taxpayers in the amounts of its offers at the bargaining table. The District has worked to address affordability and work/life balance concerns that employees have raised, while ensuring it remains responsible to taxpayers given the substantial tax and utility fee pressures anticipated in the coming years.
Updates
The District is very pleased to confirm that a tentative Collective Agreement has been reached with CUPE Local 2269. Council ratified the agreement on Tuesday afternoon during a Special Business Meeting. The Union will present details of the agreement for ratification to its members as the next step.
“We appreciate the extensive dialogue that has taken place to understand each other’s position and find compromise, and believe this tentative agreement provides the opportunity to move forward together,” says District of Squamish Mayor, Armand Hurford.
Both bargaining teams committed long hours with the Labour Relations Board mediator, with agreement reached early Tuesday afternoon.
Details of the agreement would be made public following ratification by both parties.
CUPE 2269 has advised the following for Tuesday, October 14:
- Unionized employees will not provide equipment or technical support for in-person or online meetings, with the exception of Council Meetings held in Council Chambers.
- Unionized employees will not provide access to systems to facilitate non-Union employees performing struck work, nor any related onboarding.
- Unionized employees will not assist in the creation of any manuals or instructional materials on how to perform Union work.
- Unionized employees will not collect fees for Police Information Checks.
- Unionized employees will not escort contractors or tradespeople at the Squamish RCMP detachment.
For clarity, the following measures also remain in place:
- A standby and overtime ban across the Public Works department.
- Unionized employees will not collect drop-in admission fees at Brennan Park or the 55 Activity Centre.
- Unionized employees will not collect fees for self-led programs at the 55 Activity Centre.
- Unionized employees will not verify that patrons have paid admission before entering the ice arena.
- Unionized employees will not issue parking tickets.
- Unionized employees will not process in-person payments for Business Licence Applications, Building Permits, Planning Permits, Bulk Water Payments, Water On/Off, or Engineering Service Agreements.
- Unionized employees will not issue eApply folder numbers, access codes or enter payment information into Flowpoint.
- Engineering Technicians and Engineering Technician Coordinators will not complete technical reviews, payment processing, or issue work permits.
- Unionized employees will not train, instruct, or provide guidance to exempt managers or employees on how to perform Union work.
In terms of any additional anticipated public impacts the District advises of the following:
- Equipment or technical support for in-person or online meetings will be provided by non-Union staff.
- Access to systems to facilitate non-Union employees performing struck work, and any related onboarding will be provided by non-Union employees.
- Any assistance in the creation of any manuals or instructional materials on how to perform Union work will be provided by non-Union employees.
- Fees will continue to be accepted for Police Information Checks. Collection of payments will be undertaken by non-Union employees.
- Contractors or tradespeople at the Squamish RCMP detachment will be escorted by non-Union employees.
- Verification of paid admission before entering the ice arena will be undertaken by non-Union staff.
- Technical reviews, payment processing, and the issuance of work permits will be undertaken by non-Union staff.
- In-person Building, Planning and Engineering payments will continue to be accepted at Municipal Hall. Collection of payments will continue, and will be undertaken by non-Union staff.
- Online Building, Planning and Engineering payments will continue to be accepted at squamish.ca/online-services.
- Collection of recreation user fees will continue (including self-led and drop-in program fees), and will be undertaken by non-Union staff.
As an assurance to residents, essential services to maintain the health and safety of the community have been designated by the Labour Relations Board of BC and certain unionized staff working in these areas have been designated as essential service workers. These include services such as water supply and distribution, wastewater (sewage) treatment and collections, snow and ice control, and fire and police protection. Essential service workers will continue to perform their role during any strike action.
For a complete list of impacts from CUPE 2269 job action, view the Current Operational and Service Impacts section below.
CUPE 2269 has advised the following for Thursday, October 9.
As part of ongoing job action, the Union will implement the following additional measures:
- Unionized employees will not verify that patrons have paid admission before entering the ice arena.
For clarity, the following measures also remain in place:
- A standby and overtime ban across the Public Works department.
- Unionized employees will not collect drop-in admission fees at Brennan Park Recreation Centre or The 55 Activity Centre.
- Bylaw officers will not issue parking tickets.
- Unionized employees will not process in-person payments for Business Licence Applications, Building Permits, Planning Permits, Bulk Water Payments, Water On/Off, or Engineering Service Agreements.
- Unionized employees will not issue eApply folder numbers, access codes or enter payment information into Flowpoint.
- Unionized employees will not train, instruct, or provide guidance to exempt managers or employees on how to perform Union work.
- Engineering Technicians and Engineering Technician Coordinators will not complete technical reviews, payment processing, or issue work permits.
- Unionized employees will not collect fees for self-led programs at The 55 Activity Centre.
In terms of any additional anticipated public impacts the District advises of the following:
- Verification of paid admission before entering the ice arena will be undertaken by non-Union District staff.
- Technical reviews, payment processing, and the issuance of work permits will be undertaken by non-Union District staff.
- In-person Building, Planning and Engineering payments will continue to be accepted at Municipal Hall. Collection of payments will continue, and will be undertaken by non-Union District staff.
- Online Building, Planning and Engineering payments will continue to be accepted at squamish.ca/online-services.
- Collection of recreation user fees will continue (including self-led and drop-in program fees), and will be undertaken by non-Union District staff.
As an assurance to residents, essential services to maintain the health and safety of the community have been designated by the Labour Relations Board of BC and certain unionized staff working in these areas have been designated as essential service workers. These include services such as water supply and distribution, wastewater (sewage) treatment and collections, snow and ice control, and fire and police protection. Essential service workers will continue to perform their role during any strike action.
For a complete list of impacts from CUPE 2269 job action, view the Current Operational and Service Impacts section below.
CUPE 2269 has advised the following for Wednesday, October 8.
As part of ongoing job action, the Union will implement the following additional measures:
- Engineering Technicians and Engineering Technician Coordinators will not complete technical reviews, payment processing, or issue work permits.
- Unionized employees will not collect fees for self-led programs at The 55 Activity Centre.
For clarity, the following measures also remain in place:
- A standby and overtime ban across the Public Works department.
- Unionized employees will not collect drop-in admission fees at Brennan Park Recreation Centre or The 55 Activity Centre.
- Bylaw officers will not issue parking tickets.
- Unionized employees will not process in-person payments for Business Licence Applications, Building Permits, Planning Permits, Bulk Water Payments, Water On/Off, or Engineering Service Agreements.
- Unionized employees will not issue eApply folder numbers, access codes or enter payment information into Flowpoint.
- Unionized employees will not train, instruct, or provide guidance to exempt managers or employees on how to perform Union work.
In terms of any additional anticipated public impacts the District advises of the following:
- Technical reviews, payment processing, and the issuance of work permits will be undertaken by non-Union District staff.
- In-person Building, Planning and Engineering payments will continue to be accepted at Municipal Hall. Collection of payments will continue, and will be undertaken by non-Union District staff.
- Online Building, Planning and Engineering payments will continue to be accepted at squamish.ca/online-services.
- Collection of recreation user fees will continue (including self-led and drop-in program fees), and will be undertaken by non-Union District staff.
As an assurance to residents, essential services to maintain the health and safety of the community have been designated by the Labour Relations Board of BC and certain unionized staff working in these areas have been designated as essential service workers. These include services such as water supply and distribution, wastewater (sewage) treatment and collections, snow and ice control, and fire and police protection. Essential service workers will continue to perform their role during any strike action.
For a complete list of impacts from CUPE 2269 job action, view the Current Operational and Service Impacts section below.
CUPE 2269 has advised the following for Monday, October 6.
As part of ongoing job action, the Union will implement the following additional measures:
- Unionized employees will be refusing to process in-person payments for Business License Applications, Building Permits, Planning Permits, Bulk Water Payments, Water On/Off, or Engineering Service Agreements.
- Unionized employees will be refusing to issue eApply folder numbers, access codes or enter payment information into Flowpoint.
Payments related to all other services, including the cemetery, bylaw tickets, and dog licenses, will remain unaffected.
In terms of any additional anticipated public impacts the District advises of the following:
- In-person Building, Planning and Engineering payments will continue to be accepted at Municipal Hall. Collection of payments will continue, and will be undertaken by non-Union District staff
- Online Building, Planning and Engineering payments will continue to be accepted at squamish.ca/online-services
As an assurance to residents, essential services to maintain the health and safety of the community have been designated by the Labour Relations Board of BC and certain unionized staff working in these areas have been designated as essential service workers. These include services such as water supply and distribution, wastewater (sewage) treatment and collections, snow and ice control, and fire and police protection. Essential service workers will continue to perform their role during any strike action.
For a complete list of impacts from CUPE 2269 job action, view the Current Operational and Service Impacts section below.
CUPE 2269 has advised the following for Friday, October 3.
As part of ongoing job action, the Union will implement the following additional measures:
- Members will not train, instruct, or provide guidance to exempt managers or employees on how to perform union work.
- Cessation of collecting drop-in admission fees at the 55 Activity Centre.
- A ban on standby work across the Public Works Department.
In terms of any additional anticipated public impacts the District advises of the following:
- Collection of recreation user fees will continue, and will be undertaken by non-Union staff.
As an assurance to residents, essential services to maintain the health and safety of the community have been designated by the Labour Relations Board of BC and certain unionized staff working in these areas have been designated as essential service workers. These include services such as water supply and distribution, wastewater (sewage) treatment and collections, snow and ice control, and fire and police protection. Essential service workers will continue to perform their role during any strike action.
For a complete list of impacts from CUPE 2269 job action, view the Current Operational and Service Impacts section below.
On Thursday morning (October 2), CUPE 2269 began job action in certain District of Squamish departments. This includes an overtime ban in Public Works, and not performing certain job-specific tasks in Bylaw Services, Recreation Services and the RCMP administration.
The Union advised that, effective 10:11 a.m., they would be taking the following action:
- An overtime ban across the entire Public Works Department.
- Cessation of collecting drop-in admission fees at the Brennan Park arena.
- Bylaw Officers will not be issuing parking tickets.
- RCMP Operations Coordinators will go to essential levels until end of day today.
In terms of anticipated public impacts, please be advised of the following:
- When or if overtime within Public Works is required, the necessary work will be performed by non-Union District staff.
- Weather-related issues are considered an emergency response and will be actioned appropriately as an essential service.
- Water, wastewater treatment, and wastewater collections services are essential to ensure community safety. Certain unionized staff working in these areas have been designated as essential service workers and will continue to perform their role during any strike action, including if overtime were to be required. Qualified exempt staff will be redeployed to cover technical roles that are not staffed by essential workers, and aspects of the work that don't require certifications will also be conducted by non-unionized District staff.
- Parking tickets will continue to be issued where required by other authorized departments.
- Essential services will continue to be provided at the RCMP detachment.
- Collection of recreation user fees will continue, and will be undertaken by non-Union District staff.
The patience of the public is appreciated during this time. The District’s goal is to reach an agreement with the Union that is fair and works to address affordability and work/life balance concerns that employees have raised, while ensuring the District remains responsible to taxpayers given the substantial tax and utility fee pressures anticipated in the coming years.
Frequently Asked Questions
A strike is a work stoppage or slowdown organized by a union during the collective bargaining process. A “general” strike means that all unionized employees stop working completely in all departments and at all locations. A “rotating” strike is a series of stoppages in different departments or at different locations. “Working to rule” is where unionized employees strictly adhere to the terms of their collective agreement or job description, performing only the minimum required tasks (e.g. not performing overtime). A union may employ one or all of these types of action at different times during a strike.
On July 16, 2025 CUPE 2269 received a strike mandate from its members. This put the Union in a position to serve the District with 72-hour strike notice should they choose to take any job action. The Union provided 72-hour notice on September 29, 2025. Job action began on October 2 with an overtime ban in Public Works and some job-specific items in certain departments. View the Current Operational and Service Impacts section on this page.
A lockout is when an employer prevents employees from working by closing a work location or department. It is a formal action used by employers during labour disputes, similar to how a union may strike, but initiated by the employer. In a lockout, employees are denied access to the workplace and stop receiving wages.
Essential services are the minimum levels of services designated by the Labour Relations Board as necessary to maintain the health and safety of the community during a strike. These include services such as water supply and distribution, wastewater (sewage) treatment and collections, snow and ice control, and fire and police protection.
Certain unionized staff working in these areas have been designated as essential service workers. Essential services are not disrupted during a strike/job action/lockout. Essential service workers will continue to perform their role during any strike action.
Mediation is a process that involves a neutral person (mediator) to help the union and the employer (the parties) to negotiate and reach an agreement on all or some of the terms of a collective agreement.
The Collective Agreement between the District and CUPE 2269 (the “Parties”) expired on December 31, 2024. The District bargaining team had been at the table with the Union since October 2024. Negotiations progressed until the Union indicated that the Parties were at impasse on July 4, 2025. Bargaining resumed October 1.
The Union began job action on October 2 and widespread job action began across all facilities on October 16, which included a District lockout of some departments/facilities.
The parties agreed to enter non-binding mediation through the Labour Relations Board of BC, that began October 24. A tentative agreement was reached October 28 and was ratified by Council later that day. CUPE Local 2269 members ratified the agreement on October 29, ending the labour dispute.
Employee wages are funded by taxation and utility fees, and the District is responsible to taxpayers in the amounts of its offers at the bargaining table. The District has worked to address affordability and work/life balance concerns that employees have raised, while ensuring it remains responsible to taxpayers given the substantial tax and utility fee pressures anticipated in the coming years.