A strike by transit drivers and maintenance workers continues to shut down service in the Cowichan Valley and between Duncan and Victoria.
Transit operators, cleaners and mechanics and handyDART drivers represented by Unifor have been off the job since early February, and the union says mediation will not start until next Thursday.
Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle says mediation dates are confirmed for March 27, 28 and 29, and then April 5, 6, and 7, with April 16 and 17 set aside if necessary.
He says the transit workers are prepared to stay on the picket lines as long as needed to resolve their core issues.
“When they go on strike they will last as long as it takes, and we’ve seen it now a couple years ago in Whistler, we’ve seen it in Chilliwack, and now it’s on Vancouver Island, we also saw it up Island, as well, and the root cause is always the same: it’s private contractors that are skimming off the wages and the profits that should be going back into the system.”
The two sides had a day of talks in late February, and afterwards Unifor asked the Labour Relations Board to appoint a mediator.
McGarrigle says they’re ready for talks at any time, but Transdev appears to be uninterested in returning to the table sooner.
He says pensions and wages are key issues, with transit workers in the Cowichan Valley trying to close the gap with what is offered in Victoria.
“This is the same mothership as based out of Victoria, BC Transit, often the same equipment, really all that’s happened here is BC Transit’s offloaded its responsibility to pay consistent and considerable wages in line with reasonable standards and they’re hiding behind private contractors to do it.”
Another key issue is access to safe, clean washrooms and designated breaks.
Unifor Local 114 represents 44 transit operators, cleaners and mechanics, and Local 333 BC represents eight handyDART accessible transit operators.
Transdev operates bus and handyDART services on behalf of BC Transit in communities around the province.
