Metro Vancouver bus service hit by driver overtime ban
Credit to Author: Jennifer Saltman| Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2019 17:01:38 +0000
Bus routes in Vancouver are expected to be hardest hit by the escalation in Metro Vancouver’s transit strike, which saw bus drivers refusing to work overtime on Friday.
According to TransLink, the region’s transit authority, the shortage is attributable to buses being unavailable following morning inspections and driver unavailability, and dozens of trip cancellations could result. TransLink was unable to say which routes would be affected, however it was anticipated that there would be service gaps and overcrowding throughout the day.
Bus users are encouraged to allow for extra time in their commute and check transit alerts or TransLink’s social media for updates.
Transit workers began job action two weeks ago, after contract talks broke down between their union, Unifor, and their employer, Coast Mountain Bus Company. It started with bus drivers refusing to wear uniforms and maintenance workers declining overtimes shifts. That job action continues.
There have been been 152 SeaBus sailing cancellations since the strike began on Nov. 1 — including 10 scheduled for Friday — and frequency was reduced some bus routes because of the overtime ban by maintenance workers.
Drivers decided to refuse overtime on Friday, as well as Monday, Wednesday and Friday of next week, after contract talks broke off a second time on Thursday morning. It’s expected the expanded job action will take up to 10 per cent of bus service off the road.
Wages are the main issue in bargaining.
Coast Mountain has offered 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.
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.
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.
There was progress during talks this week on improving working conditions for bus drivers, with the company offering, for the first time, guaranteed recovery time. Drivers would receive 40 minutes of recovery time per shift and be paid double time for every minute of the recovery time missed because of traffic.
Both sides decided they were too far apart to continue bargaining, and no further talks are scheduled.
Job action is affecting repairs to bus infrastructure, as well as buses.
Trolley wires knocked down by a bus Thursday evening in Vancouver were not immediately repaired because of the overtime ban for maintenance workers.
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 (Friday) due to the union’s ban on maintenance overtime,” a TransLink spokesperson said in an email.
“Buses will be on detour around it until the repairs are complete.”
SKYTRAIN WORKERS REACH BARGAINING IMPASSE
On Tuesday, negotiations 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.
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. West Coast Express is also unaffected.
— with files from Nick Eagland
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