Three unions representing numerous transit workers in Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria have issued strike notices with a 72-hour notice period.
According to a statement from Unifor, transit operators in Local 111 and skilled-trade workers in Local 2200 will commence a uniform ban on Monday following the strike notice to the Coast Mountain Bus Company. However, there will be no service disruption for riders.
Another statement mentioned that B.C. Transit workers in Victoria, represented by Local 333, will also participate in a uniform ban starting Monday.
In Greater Victoria, this action follows over a year of negotiations, with members voting overwhelmingly in favor of a strike in May. Despite months of bargaining and mediation in Metro Vancouver, a resolution could not be reached.
Unifor’s western regional director, Gavin McGarrigle, stated, “There are various concerns ranging from wages to working conditions, but it is evident that the message we need at the negotiation table has not been received. If the situation does not change, we will consider further escalation.”
The decision to take this step was made as members felt that employers had not adequately addressed ongoing issues related to wages, privatization, and working conditions, including the recovery time between trips.
TransLink and the Coast Mountain Bus Company did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment. B.C. Transit, responsible for Victoria’s transit system, expressed disappointment over the strike notice despite their efforts to reach a resolution. They assured that HandyDART service would not be affected and pledged to continue negotiations while serving their customers, employees, partners, and communities.
The organization also apologized for any inconvenience caused by the labor dispute.