Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Back On Schedule: How Three-Day Transit Strike In Vancouver Was Averted At Last Minute

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 27 Nov, 2019 08:21 PM

    VANCOUVER - About 350,000 commuters in Metro Vancouver were spared the inconvenience of a full bus strike Wednesday after a month-long transit dispute ended with a tentative agreement.

     

    The proposed deal was reached after more than 10 hours of negotiations when Unifor agreed to extend its strike deadline past midnight.

     

    Job action started on Nov. 1 when mechanics refused to work overtime and the dispute escalated with bus drivers refusing overtime after talks collapsed Nov. 14.

     

    "Transit workers stood up for one another and fought hard to get a fair contract," Unifor national president Jerry Dias said in a statement.

     

    "Total service disruption was a last resort, so our members are relieved that they can return to serving the public."

     

    Details of the tentative agreement were not disclosed, but wages, benefits and working conditions were the key issues in the dispute.

     

    Before the deal was reached, Unifor complained that an offer from Coast Mountain Bus Company, the operator of bus and SeaBus services, wasn't comparable to salaries in other major cities.

     

    Kevin Desmond, the CEO of Translink, the authority responsible for the entire transportation network in Metro Vancouver, countered that the wage offer was based on market conditions.

     
     

    Coast Mountain said the offer that was on the table earlier this month included guaranteed recovery time for drivers and a wage increase of about $6,100 over the next four years, amounting to an annual salary of $69,000.

     

    Under that proposal, the annual wage for skilled-trades workers at the company would have gone up by about $10,000 over four years, bringing their yearly earnings to $88,000.

     

    Unifor said details of the final agreement will be released after ratification votes are held.

     
     

    The union turned up the heat on the negotiations last week, warning of a complete shutdown from Wednesday to Friday if a deal could not be reached.

     

    Coast Mountain president Michael McDaniel said the tentative agreement would give its employees "a competitive package which features improved wages, benefits, and working conditions."

     

    "I would like to commend both parties for working together and finding common ground to end this difficult chapter for our customers, employees, and the company."

     

    This isn't the only labour dispute threatening to stall commuters in Metro Vancouver. SkyTrain workers voted in favour of a strike last week, although the two sides have scheduled mediated contract talks.

     

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Constable Testifies He Wasn't Required To Enter Cell To Check On Inmate Who Died

    HALIFAX - A special constable facing criminal charges in the death of an inmate in a Halifax jail testified today he didn't believe he was required to enter the cell to check on the highly impaired man.

    Constable Testifies He Wasn't Required To Enter Cell To Check On Inmate Who Died

    $7M Award Upheld For Girl Disabled After Jumping From Moving School Bus

    TORONTO - A bus company is on the hook for a $7 million award to a girl who suffered a brain injury when she jumped from a moving vehicle in keeping with an informal last-day-of-school tradition, Ontario's top court has ruled.    

    $7M Award Upheld For Girl Disabled After Jumping From Moving School Bus

    Canadian Pork And Beef Exports To China To Resume After A Four-Month Suspension

    Canadian Pork And Beef Exports To China To Resume After A Four-Month Suspension
    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadian pork and beef exports to China will resume.

    Canadian Pork And Beef Exports To China To Resume After A Four-Month Suspension

    First Nations, B.C. Cabinet Discuss Updating Laws To Align With UN Declaration

    British Columbia's Indigenous leaders and provincial cabinet members are holding their annual meeting and Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Grand Chief Stewart Phillip says,

    First Nations, B.C. Cabinet Discuss Updating Laws To Align With UN Declaration

    University Of B.C. Launches 5G Campus

    University Of B.C. Launches 5G Campus
    VANCOUVER - Rogers Communications and the University of British Columbia have fired up what is believed to be Canada's first 5G-powered smart campus.    

    University Of B.C. Launches 5G Campus

    27 Yr-Old Anmol Saggu Charged With Second-Degree Murder of 50-Yr-Old Brampton Man Taranjit Singh

    Police say the incident happened in Mono, Ont., when a allegedly assaulted the victim after an argument.

    27 Yr-Old Anmol Saggu Charged With Second-Degree Murder of 50-Yr-Old Brampton Man Taranjit Singh