”It is a stay-tuned factor,” mentioned Coast Mountain Bus Firm spokesperson Mike Killeen, who expressed optimism a strike could possibly be averted over the weekend.
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There’s optimism a Metro Vancouver bus strike could possibly be averted as Coast Mountain Bus Firm and the union representing transit supervisors deliberate to return to the bargaining desk Saturday.
Within the meantime, companies and commuters throughout the area ready for a doable strike set to start out early Monday morning.
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On Thursday, the union representing transit supervisors introduced plans for its 180 members to stroll off the job for 2 days beginning Monday at 3 a.m., successfully suspending bus and SeaBus service. The bus drivers’ union indicated its members wouldn’t cross the picket strains.
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However on Friday afternoon, Coast Mountain Bus Firm mentioned in a press release that it had been invited again to the bargaining desk by mediator Vince Prepared and was hopeful an settlement could possibly be reached.
A strike may have main impacts on companies, which is able to wrestle to “preserve the doorways open” if employers who depend on buses are unable to get to and from work, mentioned Bridgitte Anderson, president of the Larger Vancouver Board of Commerce.
“The doable two-day transit shutdown would have important ramifications on our native economic system and negatively influence the lives of the a whole lot of hundreds of residents and staff who depend on transit to get to and from work,” mentioned a information launch urging the provincial authorities to step in with assist to come back to a decision.
Ian Tostenson, president of the B.C. Restaurant Affiliation, mentioned a strike would create uncertainty for restaurant house owners.
“It sucks,” he mentioned. “A variety of our staff, particularly, use the bus to get to and from work.”
Tostenson mentioned he observed that in the course of the latest snowstorm, a number of eating places on the North Shore have been closed, seemingly as a consequence of workers being unable to catch a bus. A strike could be no totally different.
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However Tostenson mentioned he hoped a strike could be mitigated by ride-share providers corresponding to Uber.
There have been no ride-sharing providers in 2001 when commuters have been compelled to carpool, cycle and stroll throughout a 123-day transit strike that finally ended when the provincial authorities handed laws to get buses transferring.
The area got here near the same strike in 2019 when bus drivers voted to stroll off the job. A deal was reached on the final minute to avert the strike.
At a information convention Thursday, union spokesman Liam O’Neill mentioned the group’s members have been ready for greater than 4 weeks for a response to their newest proposal to Coast Mountain Bus Firm.
“Our endurance for Coast Mountain to take bargaining and our points critically has been exhausted,” he mentioned. “Our members deserve a good deal.”
O’Neill mentioned the union needs wage discrepancies and workload points addressed.
“A gaggle of our members do the identical work as different transit staff with TransLink, and our members are paid considerably much less for doing the identical job,” he mentioned.
However Coast Mountain mentioned it has provided CUPE 4500 the identical wage supply agreed to by different Coast Mountain unions. It mentioned the union’s ask of a 25-per-cent wage improve over three years for transit supervisors, which make up a few third of the union, is “unreasonable.”
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It famous that transit supervisors on buses should not have the identical job description as supervisors on SkyTrain, who handle a workers of as much as 30 folks and are chargeable for hiring and different choices.
“The roles should not comparable,” mentioned Coast Mountain spokesperson Mike Killeen. “It’s apples and oranges.”
In accordance with figures supplied by Coast Mountain, the union is asking for a 25-per-cent improve for transit supervisors, which might convey their annual wage to $115,477 after three years from the present $92,400. The corporate mentioned it’s providing staff a 13.5-per-cent wage hike to $104,886 after three years.
Killeen mentioned he was “optimistic and hopeful” a strike could possibly be prevented over the weekend.
“We’ve inspired the union to come back again to the desk with an inexpensive supply,” he mentioned. “It’s a stay-tuned factor.”
In accordance with TransLink information, solely about 25 per cent of journeys on transit don’t contain a bus, with about 338,000 journeys per day on bus alone, 232,000 journeys per day with a switch between bus and SkyTrain, and 5,400 journeys per day with a switch between bus and one other mode of transit, corresponding to HandyDART.
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In a press release, Fraser Well being mentioned it doesn’t anticipate an influence on hospital operations because of the doable strike. The well being authority runs a number of shuttle providers between worksites and transit stations for workers and medical workers.
“We strongly encourage all workers and medical workers to proactively plan for potential delays to make sure a protected and well timed journey to work,” mentioned spokesperson Krystle Landert. “We advise them to think about different transportation choices, corresponding to ride-sharing, EVO, taxis, biking, strolling, or carpooling with colleagues.”
College of B.C. spokesperson Thandi Fletcher mentioned a bus strike may influence college students, school and workers.
“Whereas the campus is not going to shut within the occasion of a strike, there may be the potential for some in-person studying actions to shift on-line,” she mentioned.
Pupil are being advised to search for communication from their instructors earlier than Monday to seek out out what they’re planning, whereas school and workers are requested to talk to their supervisors about the potential of working from house.
Simon Fraser College can also be planning for a doable disruption, with a discover to college students saying the college is “making each effort for lessons to proceed both on-line or asynchronously.” Some lessons might should be cancelled.
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School and workers are anticipated to proceed working, mentioned the discover. “Workers who’re unable to attend work or carry out work remotely can have the choice to take trip, different paid depart entitlements or unpaid depart.”
Anticipating additional automobiles on campus, SFU will make extra parking obtainable in Burnaby and Surrey.
Transit riders reacted with alarm at information of a doable strike.
“I don’t know the way I’d get to work if the buses aren’t operating,” Debbie Flores mentioned Thursday whereas ready for a bus in East Vancouver.
She works as a nanny and commutes day by day on buses and SkyTrain from her house in Surrey to Vancouver.
“It’ll make life even more durable for me.”
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— with recordsdata by Cheryl Chan and Stephanie Ip
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