Three union chapters representing thousands of transit workers in Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria have issued 72-hour strike notices. Unifor announced that 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 disruption in service for riders. Another statement disclosed that B.C. Transit workers in Victoria, represented by Local 333, will also participate in the uniform ban starting Monday.
The decision to proceed with the strike action comes after extensive negotiations lasting over a year for workers in Greater Victoria, with members voting overwhelmingly in favor of a strike in May. Similarly, negotiations and mediation efforts for workers in Metro Vancouver failed to yield a resolution.
Unifor’s western regional director, Gavin McGarrigle, stated, “There are numerous concerns ranging from wages to working conditions. However, it was essential to communicate that the dialogue at the negotiation table has been inadequate. If resorting to job action is our only recourse, we are initiating at the initial stage, but escalation is possible if the situation does not improve.”
The union took this step as members felt that employers did not adequately address ongoing issues related to wages, privatization, and working conditions, such as the duration of recovery time between trips. Both TransLink and the Coast Mountain Bus Company did not provide an immediate response to requests for comments.
B.C. Transit, responsible for Victoria’s transit system, expressed disappointment over the strike notice despite their efforts to find a resolution. The statement assured that HandyDART service remains unaffected and emphasized their commitment to continuing negotiations while ensuring support for customers, employees, partners, and communities. The organization apologized for any inconvenience caused by the labor dispute.
