Transit strike: Bargaining with SkyTrain workers break down, as transit back at table

Credit to Author: Stephanie Ip| Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2019 21:57:54 +0000

Just as bus and SeaBus operators returned to the bargaining table, the union representing SkyTrain workers announced negotiations for their members had reached an impasse.

CUPE 7000 — which represents 900 SkyTrain workers, attendants, control operators, administrators, maintenance and tech staff — announced Wednesday that talks with the B.C. Rapid Transit Company had broken down after the two sides failed to meet on several key issues.

“The company has failed to offer fair wages or address the sick plan, inadequate staffing levels, forced overtime, and other issues important to our members,” said CUPE 7000’s president Tony Rebelo.

“We have been more than proactive and flexible in trying to reach solutions to improve the service, but the employer’s latest package failed to address the key issues. They are simply not interested in bargaining seriously, so we’re left with little choice but to go to our members and seek direction for next steps.”

SkyTrain workers have been without a contract since their last agreement expired on Aug. 31, 2019.

CUPE 7000’s announcements comes the same day Unifor returned to the bargaining table, representing concerns for 5,000 Metro Vancouver transit workers that works on buses and SeaBuses.

Unifor lead negotiator Gavin McGarrigle had said Wednesday that the union was hopeful talks would be productive and if so, things could wrap up in a matter of hours. If not, McGarrigle said workers were prepared to escalate job action as early as Friday, with transit operators beginning to refuse overtime shifts.

Currently, Unifor transit workers are staging a uniform ban, with maintenance staff refusing overtime hours.

More to come.

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