While it’s too early to celebrate, Coast Mountain Bus Company has provided a small update with a glimmer of hope after unionized workers recently voted in favour of a strike.
The update is brief, but in an email, CMBC shared that it and Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 “have agreed to continue discussions with the assistance of mediation.”
“CMBC remains committed to reaching a fair agreement and will not be commenting further at this time,” it added.
Late May is when we learned that CMBC voted in favour of strike action.
Members of Unifor Local 111 and Unifor Local 2200 — together representing over 5,000 workers — voted 99 per cent in favour, according to Unifor’s announcement in May. In mid-May, Unifor first publicly announced it would seek a strike mandate from its members.
“A 99 per cent strike mandate is a clear message these workers are together and resolute about the challenges they face. They keep Metro Vancouver moving every single day, and they deserve a contract that reflects their value, their skill, and the cost of living in the region. CMBC needs to take this vote seriously,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National president, in a statement.
The vote enabled union leadership the ability to issue a 72-hour strike notice as the next step in the labour dispute escalation process. However, it should be emphasized that no strike date has been set, and Unifor has not filed a strike notice at this time.
The announcement that a mediator is helping with negotiations is a step in the right direction. This update comes just one week before the official launch of the FIFA World Cup in Vancouver, and a bus strike in the middle of the biggest event of the year could be disastrous. Potential strike action would also impact SeaBus workers.
With files from Kenneth Chan