Bus drivers supporting supervisors' labour action
A major labour action is set to happen in British Columbia today.
Metro Vancouver bus drivers and maintenance employees are throwing their support behind transit supervisors as they all seek better deals from their employers.
More than 180 transit supervisors represented by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 4500 will be "withdrawing all services" – including the SeaBus – today unless they can come to an agreement with their employer, the Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC), reported CBC.
“CUPE 4500 has been waiting over four weeks for Coast Mountain to respond to our latest proposal. Our patience for Coast Mountain to take bargaining and our issues seriously has been exhausted,” said Liam O’Neill, unions spokesperson, at a press conference in Burnaby. “Our members deserve a fair deal.”
The strike action would happen over two days.
“We regret the disruptions passengers will be experiencing, but we are out of options,” said O’Neill. “Unless Coast Mountain commits to ensure transit supervisors get the same wages as others doing similar work, and take our workload issues seriously, we are left with no choice.”
In support, Unifor Locals 111 and 2200, which represent about 4,000 bus drivers and 1,100 skilled trades and support workers will not cross the picket line if there is a full strike by the supervisors, according to the CBC report.
They did acknowledge that the Unifor Local 4500’s local action can have an impact on “the ability of our members to attend work”.
“Your Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 and national staff are and have been involved in discussions and meetings related to this situation as it has unfolded. We have been in communication with CUPE, the [c]ompany, and the BC Labour Relations Board about the scope and impact of any picketing activity,” Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 said in a statement.
“We respect picket lines.”
Also, the overtime ban started by CUPE 4500 on Jan. 6 will continue until an agreement is reached.
Last week, nearly 500 workers at military bases in Ontario and Quebec were on the picket line as negotiations between the union and the government broke off.
‘Unreasonable’ wage increase
The impending labour action can cause "a full shutdown of the SeaBus and bus system,” said
Michael McDaniel, Coast Mountain president, according to the CBC report.
In November 2023, Quebec workers marked the “biggest strike ever in Canada”.
However, he added that the union is seeking an "unreasonable" wage increase, asking for pay bumps of about 20% to 25% for different workers.
The Coast Mountain Bus Company provided the following breakdown of pay increase the union is asking for:
|
Category |
Current yearly salary |
Coast Mountain offer |
Union demands |
Percentage increase under CMBC offer |
Percentage increase under union demands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Transit supervisor |
$92,415 |
$104,886 |
$115,477 |
13.5% |
25.0% |
|
Transit communications supervisor |
$96,398 |
$109,385 |
$115,477 |
13.5% |
19.8% |
|
Shift service supervisor |
$88,437 |
$100,392 |
$106,483 |
13.5% |
20.4% |
|
Mechanics supervisor |
$113,799 |
$141,606 |
$141,606 |
24.4% |
24.4% |
|
Other trades |
$113,799 |
$130,754 |
$141,606 |
14.9% |
24.4% |
In October 2023, almost 400 Unifor workers went on strike due to wage negotiation breakdown, and shut down a crucial North American freight shipping route.