Transit strike: Here are today's TransLink cancellations for Nov. 15

November 15, 2019 admin local news, transit, translink

Credit to Author: Stephanie Ip| Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2019 14:21:15 +0000

Transit workers will escalate strike action Friday, as negotiations with the Coast Mountain Bus Company broke off again Thursday.

The strike began Nov. 1 with a uniform strike by transit operators and an overtime ban by maintenance workers. Unifor, the union representing transit workers, said job action will now include an overtime ban for bus drivers, which the union estimates could reduce bus service by 10 to 15 per cent.

TransLink says the job action will be difficult to predict. Some routes will have gaps in service and there will likely be overcrowding.

Meantime, trolley wires knocked down by a bus Thursday evening in Vancouver were not immediately repaired due to the job action.

The wires came down near Seymour and Robson streets and landed on a car, according to Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services. A woman and child exited the vehicle safely and fire crews temporarily shut down the street.

Transit workers attended the scene to ensure the area would be safe overnight but due to a ban by the transit workers’ union on overtime maintenance work, the wires weren’t fixed Thursday night.

“Crews on scene have made the area safe and traffic can flow, but the repairs won’t be made until tomorrow (Friday) due to the union’s ban on maintenance overtime,” a TransLink spokeswoman said in an email.

“Buses will be on detour around it until the repairs are complete.”

Unifor is seeking a 15.2 per cent increase compounded over four years for bus drivers and 16.7 per cent compounded over four years for maintenance workers. The employer, Coast Mountain Bus Company, is offering 9.6 per cent for drivers and 12.2 per cent for maintenance workers.

There will be 10 SeaBus sailing cancellations this morning and this afternoon:

From Lonsdale Quay:

From Waterfront:

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• Bus cancellations expected as union declares overtime ban

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• Transit strike: Horgan hints at intervention if labour action festers

• Tuesday morning calm expected on TransLink labour front, union to release an advisory in the morning

• Transit strike: Bargaining to resume on Wednesday as drivers threaten overtime ban