Deadline set for midnight on Oct. 31: Unifor
The failure of Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) in Vancouver to meaningfully address workers’ concerns about working conditions, wages, and benefits during this round of negotiations has led the union to serve 72-hour notice on Oct. 28 of job action, according to Unifor, Locals 111 and 2200.
“Unifor’s bargaining committees are prepared to stay at the table all week to reach a deal,” says Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor western regional director and lead negotiator. “The company’s lack of movement leaves us little choice but to set a strike deadline.”
If an agreement is not achieved in the next 72 hours, job action that will affect services will begin. The precise form strike action will take is to be determined but could range from work-to-rule or rolling strike action. The deadline is Oct. 31 at midnight, says the union.
On Oct. 10, the two Unifor local unions at the bargaining table voted 99 per cent in favour of strike action. This is the first time in more than 18 years these local unions have issued strike notice. The last time this happened there was a four-month strike in 2001, says Unifor.
Unifor represents more than 5,000 workers at Coast Mountain Bus Company, with Unifor, Local 111 representing transit operators in conventional and community shuttles and Unifor, Local 2200 representing maintenance and Seabus workers.
