Metro Vancouver braces for transit strike Monday

Article content material

There’s optimism a Metro Vancouver bus strike may very well be averted as Coast Mountain Bus Firm and the union representing transit supervisors deliberate to return to the bargaining desk Saturday.

Within the meantime, companies and commuters throughout the area ready for a attainable strike set to start out early Monday morning.

Article content material

On Thursday, the union representing transit supervisors introduced plans for its 180 members to stroll off the job for 2 days beginning Monday at 3 a.m., successfully suspending bus and SeaBus service. The bus drivers’ union indicated its members wouldn’t cross the picket traces.

Article content material

However on Friday afternoon, Coast Mountain Bus Firm stated in an announcement that it had been invited again to the bargaining desk by mediator Vince Prepared and was hopeful an settlement may very well be reached.

A strike might have main impacts on companies, which can wrestle to “preserve the doorways open” if employers who depend on buses are unable to get to and from work, stated Bridgitte Anderson, president of the Better Vancouver Board of Commerce.

“The attainable two-day transit shutdown would have important ramifications on our native financial system and negatively influence the lives of the a whole bunch of 1000’s of residents and staff who depend on transit to get to and from work,” stated a information launch urging the provincial authorities to step in with assist to return to a decision.

Ian Tostenson, president of the B.C. Restaurant Affiliation, stated a strike would create uncertainty for restaurant house owners.

“It sucks,” he stated. “Loads of our staff, specifically, use the bus to get to and from work.”

Tostenson stated he seen that in the course of the current snowstorm, a number of eating places on the North Shore had been closed, probably resulting from workers being unable to catch a bus. A strike could be no totally different.

Article content material

Article content material

However Tostenson stated he hoped a strike could be mitigated by ride-share companies corresponding to Uber.

There have been no ride-sharing companies in 2001 when commuters had been compelled to carpool, cycle and stroll throughout a 123-day transit strike that finally ended when the provincial authorities handed laws to get buses shifting.

The area got here near the same strike in 2019 when bus drivers voted to stroll off the job. A deal was reached on the final minute to avert the strike.

At a information convention Thursday, union spokesman Liam O’Neill stated the group’s members have been ready for greater than 4 weeks for a response to their newest proposal to Coast Mountain Bus Firm.

“Our endurance for Coast Mountain to take bargaining and our points severely has been exhausted,” he stated. “Our members deserve a good deal.”

O’Neill stated the union desires wage discrepancies and workload points addressed.

“A bunch of our members do the identical work as different transit staff with TransLink, and our members are paid considerably much less for doing the identical job,” he stated.

However Coast Mountain stated it has provided CUPE 4500 the identical wage provide agreed to by different Coast Mountain unions. It stated the union’s ask of a 25-per-cent wage improve over three years for transit supervisors, which make up a couple of third of the union, is “unreasonable.”

Article content material

It famous that transit supervisors on buses wouldn’t have the identical job description as supervisors on SkyTrain, who handle a workers of as much as 30 individuals and are answerable for hiring and different selections.

“The roles are usually not comparable,” stated Coast Mountain spokesperson Mike Killeen. “It’s apples and oranges.”

In accordance with figures offered by Coast Mountain, the union is asking for a 25-per-cent improve for transit supervisors, which might deliver their annual wage to $115,477 after three years from the present $92,400. The corporate stated it’s providing staff a 13.5-per-cent wage hike to $104,886 after three years.

Killeen stated he was “optimistic and hopeful” a strike may very well be prevented over the weekend.

“We’ve inspired the union to return again to the desk with an inexpensive provide,” he stated. “It’s a stay-tuned factor.”

In accordance with TransLink knowledge, solely about 25 per cent of journeys on transit don’t contain a bus, with about 338,000 journeys per day on bus alone, 232,000 journeys per day with a switch between bus and SkyTrain, and 5,400 journeys per day with a switch between bus and one other mode of transit, corresponding to HandyDART.

Article content material

In an announcement, Fraser Well being stated it doesn’t anticipate an influence on hospital operations because of the attainable strike. The well being authority runs a number of shuttle companies between worksites and transit stations for workers and medical workers.

“We strongly encourage all workers and medical workers to proactively plan for potential delays to make sure a secure and well timed journey to work,” stated spokesperson Krystle Landert. “We advise them to contemplate different transportation choices, corresponding to ride-sharing, EVO, taxis, biking, strolling, or carpooling with colleagues.”

College of B.C. spokesperson Thandi Fletcher stated a bus strike might influence college students, college and workers.

“Whereas the campus won’t shut within the occasion of a strike, there’s the potential for some in-person studying actions to shift on-line,” she stated.

Pupil are being instructed to search for communication from their instructors earlier than Monday to search out out what they’re planning, whereas college and workers are requested to talk to their supervisors about the potential for working from house.

Simon Fraser College can also be planning for a attainable disruption, with a discover to college students saying the varsity is “making each effort for courses to proceed both on-line or asynchronously.” Some courses might need to be cancelled.

Article content material

School and workers are anticipated to proceed working, stated the discover. “Workers who’re unable to attend work or carry out work remotely can have the choice to take trip, different paid depart entitlements or unpaid depart.”

Anticipating additional automobiles on campus, SFU will make extra parking out there in Burnaby and Surrey.

Transit riders reacted with alarm at information of a attainable strike.

“I don’t understand how I’d get to work if the buses aren’t operating,” Debbie Flores stated Thursday whereas ready for a bus in East Vancouver.

She works as a nanny and commutes daily on buses and SkyTrain from her house in Surrey to Vancouver.

“It’ll make life even tougher for me.”

— with recordsdata by Cheryl Chan and Stephanie Ip

[email protected]

Article content material