Photo: Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – December 31, 2018: Bus driving on Granville Street. / Shutterstock
Earlier today, CUPE 7000, the union representing 900 SkyTrain workers, stated that its negotiations with the BC Rapid Transit Company (SkyTrain) reached an impasse and that it would go to union members to seek direction for its next steps.
CUPE 7000 President Tony Rebelo cited a number of issues with BCRTC, such as the company's failure to offer fair wages or address the sick plan, inadequate staffing levels, and forced overtime.
Following that, Michel Ladrak, President of BC Rapid Transit Company, responded to the CUPE 7000 announcement, stating that BCRTC would remain committed to the bargaining process.
TransLink adds that Canada Line and West Coast Express are not affected by these negotiations.
Currently, over 100 Seabus sailings have been cancelled as well as numerous bus runs due to the transit strike issued by Unifor, the union representing bus operators and transit maintenance workers. What's more, Unifor has stated that it plans to escalate strike action by the end of the week if Coast Mountain Bus Company can't bring new offers to the negotiations.
So far, Vancouverites have had mixed feelings about the strike action by Unifor. While many of them are on the side of the transit operators, others are more concerned about their daily commute.
After the CUPE 7000 announcement today, a number of Vancouver Is Awesome readers expressed concern for their upcoming commutes. Right now, the SkyTrain is still operating on schedule, and only some bus schedules have been affected. However, as strike action escalates, more and more buses may be affected and more people may have to rely on the SkyTrain.
Have a look at some of the comments from our readers:
"The commuters are being hung out to dry - by all sides."
- Ashanti Munaweera
"This is the most bargaining leverage they will have for a long time if they go out with the bus drivers too, so fair enough and hopefully this gets the employer back to the table with a fair deal... but good luck Van City... we're gonna need it."
- Trish Everett-Kabut
"Sweet! Now we'll be screwed!"
- Eric Sylvestre
"Well that will really screw things up for people like me who depend on buses and skytrains to get to work to make some money to live on."
- Ruth Kozak
"It becomes clearer and clearer that Translink has to go. NDP you need to step in and request tor Translink board to resign immediately. Bring back BC Transit as the authority . Appoint emergency Transit board for the transition period. Translink has failed and there is no other way to save this city."
- Maciej Wawszczak
"Translink and sky train should be deemed essential service as without us people who use this to go to work won't be paying as now they will rely on vehicles to take them. More people who take their cars less money in your pockets."
- Bonnie Sutherland
"Selfish."
- Kingsley Ho
"This is great. I’ll have no way to get to work if they both go out."
- Alayna Pe
- Spencer Ratzlaff
