Photo: Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – December 31, 2018: Bus driving on Granville Street. / Shutterstock
TransLink has issued a statement in response to Unifor's decision to introduce an overtime ban for bus maintenance workers as part of the transit strike.
Unifor, the union representing Coast Mountain Bus Company bus operators and maintenance trades, issued strike notice this week for the first time in 18 years.
Earlier today, the union clarified what strike action would look like, stating that the overtime ban for maintenance workers will gradually increase pressure on the system. As a result, this could mean a reduction in bus service due to fewer buses on the road, as well as a reduction in SeaBus service.
The strike will also begin with a uniform ban by transit operators.
TransLink provided the following statement from Coast Mountain Bus Company in an email:
“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. This could mean reduction in bus and SeaBus service as soon as 8 a.m. tomorrow."
TransLink states that regardless of the job action, many of its services will be unaffected.
Services that are expected to continue operating normally include SkyTrain, Canada Line, West Coast Express, HandyDART, West Vancouver Blue Bus as well as other contracted services.
TransLink adds that it, "will do everything possible to keep our customers informed, as soon as possible, on service disruptions."
Contract talks will continue all day Thursday and into the evening, if necessary.
If a tentative agreement isn't reached, strike action is slated to begin as early as Friday, Nov. 1 at 8 a.m.
To stay informed, customers can sign up for Transit Alerts specific to their routes, follow @TransLink on Twitter and check TransLink online.
With files from Lindsay William-Ross and The Canadian Press.
