Environmental Reporting BC said the regional district has a 50 per cent higher waste disposal average than the province and the region has an extremely high bear population. Handout photo

By Bob Mackin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince George Citizen

Labour Dispute

Labour Relations Board settles contentious essential service levels at Regional District

Oct 5, 2025 | 9:31 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — The associate chair of the BC Labour Relations Board (LRB) decided that Regional District of Fraser-Fort George’s waste facilities are an essential service, but building inspection is only essential for avoiding a serious safety consequence, such as a structural collapse.

The contract between the regional district and CUPE Local 1699 expired May 2 and the Minister of Labour directed the board to designate necessary or essential service levels to prevent immediate and serious danger to public health, safety and welfare.

The parties could not agree on essential service levels for waste management and building inspection, so Andres Barker held an expedited hearing on Sept. 10-11 and made a decision on Sept. 17.

In his ruling, the LRB’s Barker noted Environmental Reporting BC said the regional district has a 50 per cent higher waste disposal average than the province and the region has an extremely high bear population. While there was no evidence that illegal dumping would “suddenly accelerate” to dangerous levels, Barker agreed that people already leave waste in front of depots after hours and more of that could lead to dangerous issues with wildlife during a work stoppage.

Barker agreed with the employer’s proposed essential service staffing levels for Foothills (23 per cent of normal level), Mackenzie (17 per cent) and Valemount (20 per cent).

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The regional district also asked for one building inspector to be deemed essential to perform a four-hour shift, three days a week at 155 George Street and one inspector on a weekly, four-hour shift from Robson Valley/Canoe Valley. Barker designated one, four-hour shift, one day a week, at both sites to assess major defects.

“I find building inspection services are essential only to the extent they are engaged in identifying issues with permitted or illegal builds that require immediate intervention to avoid serious safety consequences, such as structural collapse,” Barker wrote.

A Sept. 26 CUPE Local 1699 bargaining committee memo to members said it held picket captain training on Sept. 25, “another vital step so that we are prepared for job action.”

Another hearing is scheduled at the LRB after the regional district moved to add additional items to the essential services order, the memo said