Latest news with #transitstrike
CBC
14-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Cowichan Valley food bank says months-long bus strike creating hardship for low-income residents
Social Sharing Five months into a job action that has brought public transit in the Cowichan Valley to a halt, frustration and anxiety are mounting and locals say it's taken a toll on the lives of low-income residents and has cost some their jobs. The strike that began on Feb. 8 is the longest transit contract dispute in B.C.'s history, according to Unifor. The union represents about 50 regular and HandyDART bus drivers, maintenance workers, and cleaners who are affected. Henry Wikkerink, manager of the Cowichan Valley Basket Society food bank and soup kitchen in Duncan, said some locals were hopeful that the proposal put forward by a provincially-appointed mediator would lead to a resolution – but workers voted on July 6 to reject the recommended deal. "There's huge frustration about the bus strike and I mean, people have lost their jobs over it because they can't get to work," said Wikkerink. "It just keeps going on and that creates anxiety." While residents are generally supportive of the workers, he says it's been a difficult time for low-income people who rely on the rural community's transit system. Some haven't been able to access the food bank and other critical resources in town, and a number of volunteers have stopped coming in. Seventy-seven-year-old Lake Cowichan resident Gerald Watson says to get to Duncan, he now has to spend more than $80 on a taxi, get a ride from a friend, or walk for hours. The Cowichan Valley, located north of Victoria, has 15 bus routes covering more than 45 kilometres, north to south. About 90,000 people live in the valley, which BC Transit says has an average of about 1,800 weekly bus boardings. "I've been contacted by residents who are facing challenges getting out to buy groceries, to get to work, to get to medical appointments, to get to bank appointments," said North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas in an interview with All Points West. "We're just hoping that this comes to an end sometime soon." Union to discuss next steps The primary concerns driving the dispute, according to Unifor, are challenges around wages, breaks, and bathroom access for drivers. Negotiators for Unifor locals 114 and 333 reached a deal with Transdev, the employer, in April, but it was voted down by members. Transdev is a private company that BC Transit contracts to provide bus services in the region. In June, Transdev and the union applied to the labour minister for a mediator to help end the dispute. The mediator's recommendations were issued on June 30, but workers rejected it. Transdev, issued a statement following the union's rejection of this proposal saying that it had included improvements to working conditions and a starting wage that was $7.85 more than that of drivers in Victoria. The company declined an interview for this story. "Transdev supported the mediators' recommended settlement, believing it was both generous and sustainable — recognizing the critical contribution of our teams while ensuring long-term service viability," said Emily Watson, senior vice president of Transdev for Western Canada in a statement. "The proposal included an increase to the top rate for drivers that would have them earning $76,000 a year in 2027." Unifor national representative Gavin Davies said that while the proposal would allow for new drivers to earn more than those in Victoria, it introduced a "step rate" which even after five years would have drivers earning less than those in other transit systems. While there was some improvement to bathroom access, Davies says its remains a critical sticking point. At the Village Green Mall, a main hub for transit in the valley, drivers have to use a public bathroom at a nearby store – which is sometimes closed, in poor condition, or occupied by members of the public. To end the strike, some elements Davies says members want to see are a private bathroom for drivers at the mall, similar to what drivers can access in other regions, and future wage increases tied to those of drivers in Victoria. "What we've seen over the decades is an ever increasing wage gap, between Victoria Transit and other transit systems." Unifor senior leadership plan to meet early this week to discuss next steps. In the meantime, Davies acknowledged the toll the strike has had on community members. "'Sorry' falls quite short of what it is to describe how we feel, we're really upset about that," he said.
CBC
08-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Workers vote down offer in 5-month-long transit strike in B.C.'s Cowichan Valley
Social Sharing The mayor of North Cowichan, B.C., is reiterating calls for the province to step in and end a five-month-long transit strike on Vancouver Island. The strike, which began on Feb. 8 and is the longest transit contract dispute in the province's history, affects about 50 bus drivers, maintenance workers and cleaners in the region north of Victoria. Cowichan Valley's transit system covers more than 45 kilometres, north to south, and the valley itself has around 90,000 residents. Over the weekend, workers represented by Unifor locals 114 and 333 voted down a proposal put forward by a government-appointed mediator in a bid to resolve the 150-day-long dispute between them and private employer, Transdev. WATCH | Cowichan Valley commuters frustrated by strike: Cowichan Valley commuters frustrated as transit strike drags on 1 month ago Duration 2:00 Rob Douglas, the mayor of North Cowichan, is calling on the province to take a more active approach to end the strike, which he says is affecting the region's most vulnerable residents. "In my view, it makes sense at this point to have the province play a bigger role in these negotiations and have them at the table to help us sort out some kind of resolution," he told Jason D'Souza, host of CBC's All Points West, on Monday. Douglas said that residents in the region may have expected a strike to last several weeks, but none of them anticipated it would last five months and counting. "As we spread out so much of our development over the years, it has been the sprawl model of development, which, you know, does create challenges in terms of our transit system," he said. Gerald Watson, 77, is a Lake Cowichan resident who has to either spend hours walking or spend more than $80 on a taxi to get to Duncan. He estimates that he'd have to spend more than $285 to get to Victoria. He said he supports the drivers' union, but wants the government to step in and resolve the strike. He added that the government has done little to support transit services in rural areas since the closure of Greyhound bus services in 2021. "This is a complete abdication, as far as I'm concerned, of government responsibility towards the public, and that's the way it is," he said. A statement from Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside said it was regrettable that both parties in the labour dispute had not agreed on a deal. "The best, most lasting agreements are negotiated at the bargaining table," she said. "We are reviewing the situation to determine how the Ministry may best support this work, so that transit services can be restored as soon as possible." Union votes down offer Striking Unifor members are demanding higher wages, scheduled washroom breaks, and access to private washrooms. The contract between the union and the employer expired last March. CBC News asked Unifor whether there were particular reasons the recommendations were rejected over the weekend, but the union did not directly respond. "Unifor is dedicated in continuing to work with our members, the company and government on finding a solution to resolve the dispute," it said in an emailed statement. WATCH | Transit employees walk off the job in the Cowichan Valley: Strike action, on both buses and handyDART, has ground all transit to a halt in a region of south-central Vancouver Island between Nanaimo and Victoria. Over 90,000 people live in the Cowichan Valley. Transdev, which is contracted by the provincial Crown corporation, B.C. Transit, to provide services in the region, said in a statement that it was disappointed by the union's decision to reject the mediated proposal. "Transdev supported the mediators' recommended settlement, believing it was both generous and sustainable, recognizing the critical contribution of our teams while ensuring long-term service viability," read a statement from Emily Watson, the senior vice-president of Transdev in Western Canada. The company said that the mediator's proposal included wage increases for both bus and handyDART drivers, as well as "improvements to available washroom facilities throughout the system."
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Striking transit workers in Cowichan Valley, B.C., reject mediator's recommendations
DUNCAN — The union representing striking transit workers in the Cowichan Valley says its members have rejected a provincial mediator's recommendations to end a five-month labour dispute. Unifor says the dispute involves 44 striking transit operators, cleaners, and mechanics with Unifor Local 114 as well as HandyDART workers with Local 333-BC. They have been on strike for more than 21 weeks, and the union says in a news release that the dispute centres on wage disparities between Transdev workers and other B.C. transit employees, particularly in Victoria and Vancouver. It says the union and the company had agreed to jointly apply to the labour minister for the appointment of a mediator in February. Unifor says the mediator met with both sides on June 12, and issued its recommendations on June 30. Transdev says it's disappointed by the decision to reject a settlement proposal it says included 'significant improvements' to working conditions and a pay offer exceeding 'prevailing standards' across the region and province. It says the proposal included a top-wage tier lift for conventional drivers of 16.42 per cent over four years and 18.85 per cent for HandyDART drivers. 'Under this rejected deal, a conventional driver starting in Cowichan today would earn $7.85 more per hour than in the publicly operated Victoria Transit System,' it says. The company says it also included an increase in its pension plan and improvements to washroom facilities. 'Transdev Canada remains committed to reaching a fair agreement that supports its employees while safeguarding the continuity and reliability of this public mission,' it says in the statement. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2025.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Striking Vancouver Island transit workers to vote on mediator recommendations this weekend
Transit workers who have been on strike for months in British Columbia's Cowichan Valley are scheduled to vote Sunday on a list of recommendations issued by a provincially-appointed mediator. The strike, which began on Feb. 8 and is the longest transit contract dispute in the province's history, affects about 50 regular and HandyDART bus drivers, maintenance workers and cleaners in the region north of Victoria. Unifor, the union representing the workers, said the mediator delivered his report on Monday, and the workers were offered a copy on Tuesday. "They're disappointed," Unifor national representative Gavin Davies told CBC News. "They don't feel that the recommendations went far enough." Weeks to get rolling Davies said the workers' primary issues are wages, breaks, and bathroom access for drivers. But he emphasized that the vote will be the real test of how workers feel about the recommendations. If the workers ratify the recommendations, Davies said, it could still take two or three weeks before buses get rolling because they would need to be recertified as commercial vehicles. If the workers vote against the recommendations, Davies said, the workers could go to binding arbitration or be mandated to return to work by the province. The employer and transit operator Transdev, a private company contracted by B.C. Transit, told CBC News in a written statement that it "remains committed to reaching a sustainable resolution and resuming reliable service for our riders and the Cowichan Valley community." 45 kilometres of coverage The strike has created challenges for many people in the region of about 90,000 residents. The Cowichan Valley transit system covers more than 45 kilometres, north to south. Service providers and elected officials have said it's the community's most vulnerable who are bearing the brunt of the strike. Negotiators for Unifor locals 114 and 333 reached a deal with Transdev in April, but it was voted down by members. In May, the mayor of North Cowichan said it was time for the province to step up and help end the transit strike in his region. On June 10, B.C. Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside appointed a mediator, Dave Schaub, and called on both sides to work with him.
CBC
05-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Striking Vancouver Island transit workers to vote on mediator recommendations this weekend
Social Sharing Transit workers who have been on strike for months in British Columbia's Cowichan Valley are scheduled to vote Sunday on a list of recommendations issued by a provincially-appointed mediator. The strike, which began on Feb. 8 and is the longest transit contract dispute in the province's history, affects about 50 regular and HandyDART bus drivers, maintenance workers and cleaners in the region north of Victoria. Unifor, the union representing the workers, said the mediator delivered his report on Monday, and the workers were offered a copy on Tuesday. "They're disappointed," Unifor national representative Gavin Davies told CBC News. "They don't feel that the recommendations went far enough." Cowichan Valley commuters frustrated as transit strike drags on 1 month ago Duration 2:00 Weeks to get rolling Davies said the workers' primary issues are wages, breaks, and bathroom access for drivers. But he emphasized that the vote will be the real test of how workers feel about the recommendations. If the workers ratify the recommendations, Davies said, it could still take two or three weeks before buses get rolling because they would need to be recertified as commercial vehicles. Bus service has long been a problem on the island, and it's even more challenging now. We catch you up on the strike at Cowichan Valley Transit, and the cancellation of a bus route from Ucluelet and Tofino to Port Alberni. Plus, we try to find out if - or when - things might improve. If the workers vote against the recommendations, Davies said, the workers could go to binding arbitration or be mandated to return to work by the province. The employer and transit operator Transdev, a private company contracted by B.C. Transit, told CBC News in a written statement that it "remains committed to reaching a sustainable resolution and resuming reliable service for our riders and the Cowichan Valley community." 45 kilometres of coverage The strike has created challenges for many people in the region of about 90,000 residents. The Cowichan Valley transit system covers more than 45 kilometres, north to south. Service providers and elected officials have said it's the community's most vulnerable who are bearing the brunt of the strike. Negotiators for Unifor locals 114 and 333 reached a deal with Transdev in April, but it was voted down by members. In May, the mayor of North Cowichan said it was time for the province to step up and help end the transit strike in his region. On June 10, B.C. Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside appointed a mediator, Dave Schaub, and called on both sides to work with him.
