The City of Vancouver and striking CUPE civic workers are talking again on Friday, and a city official told CBC News both sides will resume formal negotiations very soon.

City manager Judy Rogers said Friday afternoon they have had preliminary discussions with the union and will make a decision soon on when to return to the bargaining table.

Outside city workers at Vancouver's waste transfer station walked off the job on July 19.
(CBC file photo)

Vancouver's outside and inside workers have been on strike for more than two weeks, demanding a new collective agreement. The strike paralyzed services like garbage collection in Vancouver and reduced municipal services.

Library workers, represented by CUPE Local 391, have resumed talks, with negotiations expected to go into next week.

Paul Faoro, president of CUPE Local 15, which represents 3,500 inside workers, said he contacted the city Friday morning to discuss a return to the bargaining table.

Vancouver's inside workers began picketing at City Hall on July 23, halting most municipal services.
(CBC file photo)

Mayor Sam Sullivan is tight-lipped about details of all the informal talks. 

"All I can tell you is that I'm very encouraged and very pleased that all of the unions are involved in preliminary discussions. I respect their request that I not comment at this time," he said.