A majority of Vancouver outside workers have approved the recommendations contained in a report prepared by mediator Brian Foley.

However, the 82-day strike continues because fewer than two-thirds voted in favour, which is a requirement of a CUPE 1004 bylaw.

This evening, the CUPE regional office announced that 58 percent of park outside workers and 57 percent of city outside workers voted "yes".

Earlier this evening, CUPE reported that library workers belonging to CUPE Local 391 heartily rejected the recommendations with 78 percent voting "no".

The library workers had sought pay equity -- or equal pay for equal value -- and the union stated that the mediator's package didn't address this satisfactorily.

Today, inside workers at city hall voted 73 percent in favour of the recommendations, according to CUPE. The recommendations require the city to provide six months' notice before any contracting out of members' work.

Tomorrow, Vancouver city council is scheduled to vote. For more on the impact of this vote, check out the next edition of the Georgia Straight, which will be distributed across the Lower Mainland on Thursday.

See related stories on the Vancouver civic workers strike at Straight.com:

A side exit from the strike (September 27, 2007)
A strike about nothing throttles residents (September 27, 2007)
Labour expert says it will be hard for union and city to reject an agreement based on mediator's recommendations (September 26, 2007)
Library workers agree to enhanced mediation (September 26, 2007)
Vancouver civic workers strike undermines MS patient's recovery (September 21, 2007)
Civic strike harms the poor (September 13, 2007)
Is the civic workers strike exacerbating the gap between rich and poor in Vancouver? (September 13, 2007)
Sam Sullivan's strike strategy (September 13, 2007)
Suzanne Anton: Vision using strike for political gain (August 16, 2007)
Strike stalls developers (August 9, 2007)
Strike shuts down meeting (August 2, 2007)
NPA divided on strike refund (August 2, 2007)
Rats, yes, but bacteria love garbage strikes too (July 26, 2007)
Long strike could jeopardize construction (July 26, 2007)
Negotiations stalled on civic-worker contracts (June 14, 2007)