Contract talks break off for Metro Vancouver bus and SeaBus workers
Credit to Author: Jennifer Saltman| Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2019 19:54:40 +0000
Bus drivers will refuse to work overtime on Friday and three days next week, after contract talks between the union representing striking bus and SeaBus workers and maintenance staff and Coast Mountain Bus Company broke off for a second time on Thursday.
Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor’s western regional director said the ban could take 10 to 15 per cent of vehicles off the road and cause major issues for transit users, who have been dealing with SeaBus and bus trip cancellations for almost two weeks thanks to an overtime ban by maintenance workers.
In addition to Friday, the ban will be in effect on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of next week.
“This will have significant impacts on the travelling public,” said McGarrigle, speaking to media in the lobby of the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford hotel. “The bus system is the backbone of our transit system in Metro Vancouver. Without it, not much functions around here.”
McGarrigle said there will be impacts throughout the bus system, however it is hard to predict where exactly they will be felt.
Thus far, job action has included a uniform ban for bus drivers and an overtime ban for maintenance workers, and that action will continue.
Thus far, there have been been 142 SeaBus sailing cancellations since the strike began on Nov. 1 — including six scheduled for Thursday — and last Friday frequency was reduced on 25 bus routes during the morning rush because of the overtime ban by maintenance workers.
McGarrigle said there was progress during talks on Wednesday on the topic of working conditions for bus drivers, however the company was still unwilling to discuss other key issues, such as wage parity for bus drivers in Metro Vancouver with those in Toronto, and wage parity for skilled trades workers at Coast Mountain Bus Company and SkyTrain.
“It became very clear to us during discussions and both parties have mutually agreed that our positions are too far apart for there to be a basis for settlement and so both parties have agreed to end discussions at this point,” McGarrigle said.
“Our bargaining committee has taken this bait and switch by the company where they claim to want to talk about outstanding issues as a very provocative move on the part of the company and confirmation that they were never serious about addressing the outstanding issues.”
SkyTrain cars leave Brentwood SkyTrain station in Burnaby earlier this year. Contract talks broke off Tuesday between SkyTrain workers who operate and maintain the Expo and Millennium lines and their employer, B.C. Rapid Transit Company.
The deal previously offered to transit workers includes a 12.2-per-cent pay increase for skilled trades over four years, and a 9.6-per-cent pay increase for transit operators over the same period. The company has also offered to implement measures to improve working conditions. Coast Mountain had said prior to resuming bargaining that it was willing to “improve” its proposal.
Unifor had sought an increase of 15.2 per cent over four years for bus drivers and 16.7 per cent over four years for maintenance workers. It also asked for improved benefits and better working conditions, including a guaranteed minimum break time for drivers while they’re on shift. McGarrigle said the union had been willing to make concessions in some areas.
Under the current contract, conventional bus drivers start at $22.83 an hour during a 30-day training period, then go from $24.46 an hour to $32.61 an hour after 24 months of employment. Those driving 40- and 60-foot buses get benefits that include medical, vision and dental, a pension plan and family bus passes.
Bus and SeaBus workers are not the only transit employees in Metro Vancouver who are bargaining a new contract.
On Tuesday, contract talks between SkyTrain workers who operate and maintain the Expo and Millennium lines and their employer, B.C. Rapid Transit Company, broke off.
The union is planning to meet with its membership — 900 SkyTrain attendants, control operators, administration, maintenance and technical staff — this week and next week to determine next steps. No further talks have been scheduled with the company.
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 7000 president Tony Rebelo said there are several areas on which the two sides disagree, including wages, staffing, forced overtime and sick leave.
The contract for SkyTrain workers expired on Aug. 31, and the two sides have been in bargaining since the beginning of May.
Canada Line workers are not involved in this round of bargaining. They are represented by the B.C. Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU) and their contract expires on Dec. 31. Negotiations with their employer, Protrans BC, which operates Canada Line, have not yet started. West Coast Express is also unaffected.
Bargaining is also under way for Coast Mountain Bus Company’s operational, scheduling and administrative workers, and TransLink office workers, including clerks, assistants, administrators, coordinators, technicians and analysts. They are represented by MoveUp Local 378 and their contracts expired on March 31.
The Amalgamated Transit Union 134, which represents 155 West Vancouver Blue Bus shuttle and bus drivers, mechanics and service workers, is expected to begin bargaining with the District of West Vancouver this month.
More to come …
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