District of Squamish to enter mediation with CUPE 2269 in ongoing labour dispute

The District of Squamish will enter non-binding mediation with CUPE Local 2269 through the Labour Relations Board of British Columbia. The parties have received confirmation from the Labour Relations Board that mediation will begin Friday morning, October 24.

 

The decision follows a request from CUPE 2269, and is a welcome next step by the District.

 

“The District remains wholeheartedly committed to achieving a collective agreement that is fair for our employees, while balancing fiscal responsibility and ensuring fairness to our taxpayers,” says District of Squamish Mayor, Armand Hurford. “We are hopeful that with the assistance of a mediator we can make some real progress, and ideally in short order.”

 

The labour dispute has been underway for three weeks, and escalated on October 16 with the District locking out certain departments to incentivize the union to re-engage in bargaining to work towards agreement.

 

“This is not where any of us want to be and the impacts to both our employees and the community are significant and growing daily, which is deeply troubling to us,” continues Hurford. “Our employees are the lifeblood of our services to the community, and we want our entire team back at work with wages and community services resumed.”

 

Out of respect for the mediation process, the District of Squamish will not provide further comments on bargaining during the mediation.

 

The District continues to provide updates on operational and service impacts on its website.

October 22, 2025