Unifor strike action can reduce service from Friday morning: TransLink

The job action by TransLink bus drivers and Seabus workers could mean reduction in bus and Seabus service as soon as 8 a.m. tomorrow.

“Unifor, the union representing Coast Mountain Bus Company bus operators and maintenance trades, has advised job action in the form of bus maintenance workers not doing overtime work,” said Jill Drews, senior issues management advisor.

Regardless of the job action, many of the services will be unaffected, Drews said. SkyTrain, Canada Line, West Coast Express, HandyDART, West Vancouver Blue Bus and other contracted services will continue operating normally.

“We will do everything possible to keep our customers informed, as soon as possible, on service disruptions. To stay informed, customers can sign up for Transit Alerts (alerts.translink.ca) specific to their routes, follow @TransLink on Twitter and check translink.ca.”

Unifor, the union representing the transit workers, served a 72-hour notice of job action on October 28.

Jerry Dias, Unifor National President, said the failure of Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) to address workers’ concerns about working conditions, wages, and benefits has led to the decision.

Unifor represents more than 5,000 workers at Coast Mountain Bus Company, with Unifor Local 111 representing transit operators in conventional and community shuttle and Unifor Local 2200 representing maintenance and Seabus workers.

“It’s not hard to understand what is happening here. The company is showing little respect for the difficult working conditions that our members must face every day,” said

The local unions voted 99 per cent in favour of strike action in early October, the first time in more than 18 years these local unions have issued strike notice.