About 500 striking CUPE members rallied outside Vancouver City Hall Friday afternoon to protest the collapse of civic talks, while one councillor called on the city council to step into the bargaining process.

Striking CUPE workers in Vancouver rallied outside city hall on Friday, pressing for a settlement that improves on wages and benefits.
(CBC)

CUPE Local 1004 said its members were angry and frustrated because they remain the only municipality in the Lower Mainland without a contract.
 
Mike Jackson, president of the union that represents 1,800 outside workers, said members are insulted the city offered a 16.5 per cent wage increase over five years, less than what's been given to workers in other municipalities.

But wages and terms aren't the only sticking point, he said.

"This has been about our local issues that we would like to address in regards to retention — to retain employees and to recognize the loyalty that employees have given for over 30 years of service."

But Jerry Dobrovolny, the city's assistant city engineer, said the unions are being offered a deal similar to the five-year package that ended other Lower Mainland strikes.

"It's just simply ridiculous," Dobrovolny said. "They need to reduce their expectations to be more in line with the fiscal realities of Vancouver taxpayers."

Vision Vancouver councillor Heather Deal, meanwhile, called on Mayor Sam Sullivan to bring an end to the strife, saying council should give a mandate to the bargaining committee in terms of what's expected.

"We're seeing no leadership from the mayor on this," Deal told CBC Radio's The Early Edition Friday morning. "We're getting no leadership from the mayor's office, we're having no opportunity as a council to speak on this issue and we think that's inappropriate."

Milan Vicic, a Vancouver resident, said on Friday he's running out of ideas of what to do with his garbage.
(CBC)

The civic strike in Vancouver has entered its fourth week. Residential garbage pickups have been suspended, municipal services at City Hall reduced, and 22 library branches closed.

Some residents told CBC News they're beginning to have problems coping.

Milan Vicic, 84, said he's been composting organic waste since the strike began and is tired of seeing it drag on.

"I'm not very happy with that because I don't know what to do with my garbage," he said. "Maybe I'll take it down to City Hall and dump in on their lot."

Vancouver resident Julie Mendgen said on Friday she wants to see a negotiated contract for the unions soon, because her children have not been able to go to the libraries or the pools.
(CBC)

Julie Mendgen, another resident who lives a few blocks away, said her family is feeling the frustration.

"We haven't been able to go to the libraries, or the pools so we would like to see a negotiated contract," the mother of three said. "We wouldn't want to see the workers put back through any means of force or anything."