Transit Strike LIVE: Union set to announce job escalation
Credit to Author: Tiffany Crawford| Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2019 16:12:32 +0000
Transit users in Metro Vancouver can expect more cancellations and delays on buses and SeaBus this week as job action ramps up again Wednesday.
Unifor, the union representing about 5,000 transit employees, is making an announcement today at 11 a.m., about strike escalation and picket line preparation.
The union says the move follows Coast Mountain Bus Company’s failure to make new offers at the bargaining table. Contract talks broke off a second time last week, and the two sides remain far apart.
Unifor western regional director Gavin McGarrigle says following Wednesday’s announcement dozens of transit workers will receive strike training.
Possible job action could include refusing to collect fares, working-to-rule, sporadic strikes or a rotating strike. Bus drivers have already refused overtime, and since Nov. 1 have declined to wear their uniforms and maintenance workers have been on an overtime ban.
The strike has already cause hundreds of bus delays, cancellations, and a reduction in SeaBus service, although no SeaBus cancellations are scheduled Wednesday.
Meantime, there could be more transit woes on the way, as the union representing 900 SkyTrain employees, who work on the the Expo and Millennium lines, says its members are taking a strike vote this week. Results are expected Thursday.
CUPE 7000 president Tony Rebelo said although mediated talks are scheduled for later this month, the union wanted to get back to bargaining sooner after talks reached an impasse last week.
More to come…
-With files from Jennifer Saltman