West Vancouver buses will not be operating on Monday morning after mediated negotiations between the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 134 and the District of West Vancouver broke off Sunday night.
The strike means no Blue Buses will be operating between West Vancouver, downtown Vancouver, and the BC Ferries terminal at Horseshoe Bay.
Roughly 18,000 people use the Blue Bus service every day. The strike will take effect at 4:45 a.m. Monday and is the first transit strike in West Van for 100 years.
ATU spokesperson Bill Tieleman says the strike will last indefinitely until a deal can be reached.
“We are extremely disappointed and extremely frustrated with West Vancouver District being the only municipality in British Columbia that won’t negotiate a new collective agreement with its transit workers,” said Geoff Devlin, president and business agent of the ATU Local 134.
“We regret that our valued riders will be inconvenienced and we ask them to tell West Vancouver District Council to return to negotiations and reach a settlement like every other transit employer already has,” Devlin added.
Get daily National news
WATCH: Spokesperson for the District of West Vancouver Jeff McDonald, talks about the strike.
The union represents 149 drivers and bus mechanics that operate the system of 52 buses.
“We understand that a transit strike is extremely inconvenient for many people,” said District communications director Jeff McDonald. “By proceeding with this unnecessary strike, the transit union will be causing hardship for those who depend on Blue Bus, especially students and seniors.”
A release from the district said: “The District came to the negotiating table today with a fair offer including a salary adjustment and other benefits comparable to the contract accepted by Coast Mountain Bus Company workers earlier this year. Despite the transit union’s claims, the District had not asked for any concessions to existing benefits.”
Blue Bus routes affected include:
- 250
- 250A
- 251
- 252
- 253
- 254
- 255
- 256
- 257
- 258
- 259
- C12
More to come…
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.