
"Her car photographed, herself photographed ... It was quite an unpleasant scene." Police confirmed the incident at the city pound, where the woman encountered 10 to 12 picketers. Police said in a news release officers were called to investigate an allegation the woman was pushed. No charges were laid. A representative for the union local that represents inside workers could not be reached for comment.
However, in a release the union said it had been informed of the incident involving "a couple crossing the picket-line and a group of all-female CUPE picketers."
The release said police and ambulance were called in but no charges were laid and no one was taken to hospital.
"It is unfortunate that the city is taking advantage of this first picket-line complaint to escalate tensions between the city and its 5,500 employees," the union said in the release.
Mike Jackson, a CUPE spokesman for the outside workers, said he knew nothing about the situation.
"Anything that happens like that, we don't condone any of that action," he said.
City representatives also say tires have been slashed on several city vehicles and on the personal vehicles of staff who helped clean up after Vancouver's popular fireworks display, which generates an excess of garbage.
"It's distressing because (the vandalism) relates directly to the work we've been doing to try and keep the beaches clean, especially after the fireworks," said Susan Mundick, general manager of the Vancouver Park Board.
She admitted the city had no hard evidence the vandalism was being committed by CUPE members.
The situation on the bargaining front wasn't any more civil between both sides Tuesday.
The city called the demands by CUPE 15, which represents inside workers, "simply unaffordable," but said it remained hopeful after the cities of Delta and Burnaby both reached settlements with their respective unions.
Tentative agreements were reached Monday for 2,000 workers in Burnaby and another 800 in Delta, with ratification votes set for later this week.
After a failed meeting with the city on Saturday, CUPE Local 15 president Paul Faoro said inside workers were frustrated that the city bargaining team sent to talk with union negotiators did not include senior managers who could have struck a deal.
The union put forth an offer which would have seen members receive a raise of 21 per cent over a five-year contract.
After nearly two weeks without garbage pickup, a strong stench has started to waft from some neighbourhood alleyways and garages.
But on the busy Robson Street, which houses popular high-end stores and the city's art gallery, most bins remain empty and store fronts litter-free.
Sharon Danhelka, who works at two galleries in the downtown area, said she hasn't noticed a difference in the city's litter levels since the strike started.
"Someone's cleaning it up," she said, but pointed out that a bylaw requires store owners to keep their shop fronts tidy.
City engineer Tom Timm admitted managers were focusing on collecting garbage from the downtown and commercial areas.
He said there were also contracted programs, such as the Downtown Street Youth Action Group, that were still being run during the strike to pick up garbage.
(940news.com)