With a two-game home winning streak, this was the last thing the Vancouver Whitecaps needed.
But it’s now looking like Saturday’s match between the Colorado Rapids and the Whitecaps in Vancouver has been put in doubt, as the union representing B.C. Place workers issued a 72-hour strike notice on Tuesday.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]In a letter published on their website addressed to members, the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union stated, “The focus of the bargaining committee has been around job security, which is our key issue. We are concerned about contracting out and reduction of work hours.
“The union wants to advise the membership it has exercised the strike mandate, and has issued the employer 72 hours strike notice today, October 18, 2011. It is in the legal position to exercise the strike mandate as early Friday afternoon.”
B.C. Pavilion Corp., which operates B.C. Place, admitted a strike could shut down the ‘Caps home but that it was optimistic the situation could be resolved without that happening.
“Should the BCGEU commence strike action and withdraw their members, B.C. Place will be unable to operate for upcoming scheduled events,” read a release late on Tuesday.
“PavCo stresses that it has agreed to numerous union proposals in the past six months, including some new issues introduced late in the process.
“PavCo remains optimistic that further progress will be made and upcoming events will not be impacted.”
When asked about the bubbling labor dispute following Vancouver’s 3-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on Oct. 6, Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi told Canadian Soccer News, “We’re hopeful that they’re going to resolve things. All we can do is sit on the side and hope things get resolved.”
The club has posted a brief note on its website, and it's best for Whitecaps fans to check back here closer to the weekend's game to monitor how this situation develops.
UPDATE: Saturday's match will go ahead as planned.
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Martin MacMahon covers the Vancouver Whitecaps for Canadian Soccer News. Follow him on Twitter: @martinmacmahon