The strike by 500 workers at BC Place in Vancouver will continue indefinitely, union officials announced on Monday afternoon.

The Crown-owned stadium was hit by a strike on Monday morning, when the B.C. Government Employees’ Union announced 38 full-time workers and 460 part-timers were off the job.

Originally the strike was scheduled to last one day, but later on Monday afternoon union officials announced the strike would continue until further notice.

The workers include tradespeople, security officers, first aid workers, technicians and housekeeping staff, though food services won't be affected.

The BCGEU says the union is asking the employer, PAVCO, to bolster job security, said union spokeswoman Karen Tankard.

“The main issue in these contract talks is job security,” she said.

“Some of the work inside BC Place is being contracted out. That is work we think our members should be doing, so we will be seeking in the next collective agreement some provision that secures their jobs.”

There are several big events scheduled in coming weeks, including the Year of the Snake Expo, which is scheduled to set up in the stadium on Wednesday and open on Thursday.

“Our goal is not to have our members out on strike. Our goal is to get a fair collective agreement for them,” said Tankard.

The workers' most recent contract expired in May of last year.

With files from The Canadian Press