Dear City et al CUPE Local 15 Members:
In recent days, the union office has received many inquiries from concerned members following media reports regarding the City of Vancouver’s intention to hold next year’s operating budget increase at 0%, the discussions around potential staffing reductions, and the Vancouver Sun article about remote work.
Vancouver’s plan for a zero property tax increase may sound appealing to the public, but it raises serious questions about future costs, and impacts on city services—including to the most vulnerable—services we proudly deliver every day.
The City does have reserves and long-term plans, but those resources are not endless. Much of the City’s revenue—from permits, parking, bylaw tickets, EasyPark, special events, and other public services—comes directly from the work our CUPE 15 members do every single day. Our members are the backbone of the City; the ones who keep things running, but also generate revenues Vancouver relies on.
We are hearing that buyouts or terminations are being considered for exempt positions, meaning non-unionized employees, and possibly contractors. As of now, we have no indication that any unionized jobs are being cut, and we will be watching closely to ensure that does not change. If there are payouts or buyouts, we understand they are limited to management at this stage.
The City’s shift to bring remote staff back into the office has also raised concerns. Some members appreciate the collaboration that comes from being back in person, while others have found better work-life balance and productivity working from home and see ulterior motives behind the City’s actions.
Either way, these decisions must respect our collective agreement and be made with proper consultation, and in consideration of the true costs of service cuts and impacts on the public. While we do not have the power to prevent the Employer from implementing these changes, we have successfully delayed them until January 1, 2026 to permit our members as much time as possible to adapt.
The City is expected to deliver on upcoming major events like the FIFA World Cup 2026, and we believe that any attempts to cut unionized jobs are misguided and will deprive the organization from valuable human assets and losses to workforce capacity, with significant negative impacts on people and services, infrastructure and successful project delivery. There is no justification for cutting unionized frontline jobs when the demand for public services remains high.
Our message is clear: the City must manage its finances responsibly—not by cutting the people who make this city work, but by investing in them.
Together with our sister union Locals 1004 and 391, Local 15 will continue making the case that our work is not optional and that job cuts may save money in the short term, but will bring exponential added costs down the road.
In solidarity,
Santino Scardillo
Acting President