Okanagan transit strike looming? Bus drivers to vote on final offer

Okanagan bus drivers might still be walking off the job on Wednesday according to the bus drivers’ local union president, Scott Lovell.

Lovell said the Amalgamated Transit Union 1722 issued 72-hour strike notice on Thursday after being presented with an unfavourable final offer from First Canada.

First Canada is the company contracted by BC Transit to operate its service in the central Okanagan.

“The offer was so bad that we could intelligibly say that it would be rejected,” Lovell said.

The union represents bus drivers and other transit workers in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland, Lake Country and the Westbank First Nation.

Lovell said strike action won’t be taken until all of the union’s 217 members get a chance to vote on the final proposal presented by First Canada, and until members get a chance to discuss options.

“Our constitution dictates that our membership must vote on the offer even though we have a strike mandate already,” Lovell said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Our constitution dictates that our membership must vote on the offer even though we have a strike mandate already," Lovell said.

“We just have to give them some suggestions of what we would like to see and they either accept it or different options come up.”

On Thursday, First Canada spokesperson Chris Kemper told Global News over the phone that the proposal on the table is in line with compensation other transit agencies in B.C. currently receive.

READ MORE: Okanagan transit strike possible as early as Sunday

Lovell said there was a record turnout at a meeting with all the local union members on Tuesday morning, with people lining up outside the building an hour before the scheduled start.

“They were really eager to share their opinion with the executive board of the negotiating committee. They wanted to make sure they have their voice heard,” Lovell said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "They were really eager to share their opinion with the executive board of the negotiating committee. They wanted to make sure they have their voice heard," Lovell said.

He said 100 members have already voted on whether or not they approve the company’s final offer. Another meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday where the rest of the membership will vote.

“I’ll talk to the company when we get the results and we’ll go from there but discussions were very spirited at the earlier meeting,” Lovell said.

As for what kind of strike action the bus drivers might take, Lovell said that’s being discussed in Tuesday’s meetings.

“We may be out tomorrow, we may not be out for a week but at the end of the meeting [Tuesday night], the membership will have their say,” Lovell said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We may be out tomorrow, we may not be out for a week but at the end of the meeting [Tuesday night], the membership will have their say," Lovell said.

Lovell said having the membership vote on the company’s final offer after issuing strike notice was a strategic move.

He said the union will have a better idea of what its next steps are by late Tuesday night. He said it’s unlikely bus drivers will walk off the job on Wednesday, but there’s a chance that’ll happen.

BC Transit said HandyDart will continue operating at “essential service levels” even if workers do go on strike.

However it is recommending regular transit users make backup plans in case job action does disrupt services.

~ With files from Megan Turcato and Doris Maria Bregolisse