The union representing Metro Vancouver wastewater workers who walked off the job Monday said they made progress in contract talks during the week.

Staff at five wastewater treatment plants, including the Northwest 91原创 plant and the Annacis Island plant in North Delta, walked off the job Monday after almost two years without a contract. The workers are represented by the Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees鈥� Union (GVRDEU).

鈥淭here was a shift in tone at the bargaining table and through mediators, we were able to have some important progressive discussions about your key bargaining priorities,鈥� said an update on Thursday, Oct. 19 from the GVRDEU bargaining committee to union members.

The update said that while progress had been made, the union and Metro Vancouver management had still not reached agreement on two key issues and there were 鈥渟ignificant barriers鈥� to address before a deal was reached.

The union and management did agree to meet again on Friday, Oct. 20 for continued negotiation, which the union saw as keeping momentum going.

The update said the bargaining committee was hopeful they could reach a fair deal.

Metro Vancouver declined to offer further comments, but earlier in the week a statement from Sandra Jansen, Metro鈥檚 general manager of external relations said that the regional district was committed to reaching a 鈥渇air and reasonable collective agreement.鈥�

Metro began bargaining by offering an 11.5 per cent wage increase over three years and a one-time lump sum payment of 4.5 per cent based on last year鈥檚 wages, plus improvements to benefits.

While workers are on the picket lines, sewage processing at the five plants continues with a mixture of essential staff from the union, plus non-union managers and engineers taking up the remainder of the jobs.

READ MORE: Wasterwater workers in 91原创, around Metro Vancouver on strike