Three union chapters, representing thousands of transit employees across Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria, have delivered 72-hour strike notifications.
According to a statement from Unifor, transit operators in Local 111 and skilled trade workers in Local 2200 will initiate a ban on uniforms starting Monday after notifying the Coast Mountain Bus Company about the strike, although service for passengers will remain unchanged.
In a separate announcement, workers from B.C. Transit in Victoria, represented by Local 333, will also commence a uniform ban on Monday.
For the workforce in Greater Victoria, this action follows over a year of negotiations and a significant majority vote in favor of a strike in May. Similarly, extensive negotiations and mediation efforts for Metro Vancouver workers did not result in a resolution.
“There are numerous issues ranging from wages to working conditions, but it was essential to convey that we aren’t receiving the necessary responses at the negotiating table, and if our options are limited to job actions, we are starting at the lowest point,” stated Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor’s western regional director.
“However, if the situation does not improve, we will definitely escalate our actions as time progresses.”
He mentioned that the union opted for this course of action after members expressed dissatisfaction with the employer’s inability to address persistent issues related to wages, privatization, and working conditions, including inadequate recovery time between shifts.
TransLink and the Coast Mountain Bus Company did not immediately respond to requests for comments.
B.C. Transit, which manages the transit system in Victoria, stated that the strike notification comes “despite making all reasonable attempts to find a resolution,” and emphasized that HandyDART service will not be affected.
“B.C. Transit remains dedicated to ongoing negotiations while supporting its customers, employees, partners, and the communities it serves,” the organization stated.
“The organization apologizes for any inconvenience caused by this labor dispute.”