The Resort Municipality of Whistler is considering its options after CUPE sent out a press release claiming the dispute is putting the resort’s water at risk.
"We are examining all the options for next steps," said municipal spokeswoman Diana Waltmann.
Asked if that included legal action against the union she replied: "That could be an option."
Twenty-five members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2010 have been without a collective agreement for more than two years and have been on limited strike action since mid February.
CUPE workers are looking for a $4,000 cost of living allowance to offset the high cost of living in a resort town. They are also fighting against the rollback of benefits.
The wastewater treatment workers, utilities workers and bylaw officers are claiming that the safety of the resort’s water is being compromised by the municipality’s failure to reach a settlement with the union.
"It is our moral obligation to warn residents and visitors of the public safety risks they face in Whistler," said a recently released statement by CUPE chief negotiator Robin Jones.
"Recently a water meter failed for 45 minutes before it was discovered, allowing thousands of gallons of untreated surface water into the Whistler water system, posing a health risk for the young, elderly and immune-compromised individuals."
CUPE representatives did not return repeated calls by The Pique over a three day period.
The release went on to say: "CUPE 2010 is purchasing newspaper ads … to warn residents and visitors of the potential risk of visiting Whistler and drinking the water during this labour dispute."
Waltmann was adamant that the resort’s water supply is safe.
"We assure residents and guests that our water systems have always been of the highest quality and will continue to be of the highest quality and we won’t allow anything to compromise that."
She pointed out that the surface water contamination referred to by CUPE in their June 2 press release occurred Jan. 27 before any work action took place.
And, said Waltmann, the system is designed so that there is a three to five day chlorine retention in the water.
"There is no health risk," she said.
"There was none then and there is none now."
The water is tested regularly by the Ministry of Health and the results are posted at www.healthspace.ca/vch .
The municipality and CUPE did meet over the weekend for mediated talks. And, said Waltmann, it is hoped talks will resume later this week.
During pre-mediation discussions CUPE agreed not to go ahead with the ads warning visitors and residents of the potential risk of visiting the resort and drinking the water, said Waltmann.
The municipality also gave CUPE until 5 p.m. Tuesday to retract their statements in the press release and apologize to the community.
Said Waltmann: "This press release is very harmful to the community.
"Tourism is our main economy and we rely on the visitors and for an organization to go out and print this is harmful.
"We have asked for an apology on behalf of the community and a retraction and we are waiting for that and that is where it sits right now. "
At press deadline the union had tendered no apology. Rather CUPE sent out another press release saying that local stakeholders were meeting to see if a solution could be found.
"After mediated bargaining failed this weekend, Whistler’s
municipal workers have been receiving calls from local residents and community leaders that point to a ‘made-in-Whistler’‚ solution to the 3-month labour dispute between CUPE 2010 and the Resort Municipality of Whistler," it stated.
However, no municipal staff are part of the "stakeholder" talks.
Some Whistler business owners are outraged at the statements being made by local union members that Whistler’s water is unsafe.
"They are threatening the whole community and this community of Whistler will not stand for that," said Chris Quinlan, who owns popular coffee spot Behind the Grind.
He fears that CUPE’s threats could impact the economy of the resort at a delicate time.
"We have just come through the worst winter in decades," he said. "The resort as a whole has been experiencing a bit of a decline over the last couple of years and for an outside interest, claiming to represent 28 members of our community, to put the livelihood of the entire resort at risk is abhorrent.
"It angers me that they would try and do this because now they are messing not just with the municipality, but they are messing with my employee’s livelihood and my livelihood."
Whistler businessman Bob Lorriman also said he was concerned that the union tactics could affect business in the resort.
"This is a serious issue and I think CUPE is going to alienate the entire community," he said.
"I think it is unfortunate because the local CUPE members are our neighbours."
And said Lorriman if there are concerns about the water they should be dealt with by the resort not publicized worldwide.
