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Talks with Bus Drivers Union Collapse – Full Valley Transit Shutdown Set For Monday March 20

Coquitlam/Fraser Valley – From the CUPE media release on Friday March 17, it appears that talks with the Bus Drivers Union have failed and transit service in the Fraser Valley ( excluding essential Handy Dart) will grind to a halt on Monday March 20: (NOTE that spring break is on so some of the impact will be deferred, however those relying on busses to get to work or UFV will be impacted)

Following three days of failed negotiations, CUPE 561 says its members who work for First Transit will commence a full walkout on Monday. HandyDART will operate at essential service levels for passengers requiring treatment for cancer, multiple sclerosis, and renal dialysis. All other transit services in the Fraser Valley will cease indefinitely until a fair deal is reached, the union said.

CUPE 561 President Jane Gibbons described the full shutdown as a result of the company’s intransigence at the table.

“This employer has completely refused to meaningfully discuss the regional wage disparity and lack of a pension,” said Gibbons. “It’s gotten so bad that we’re left with no alternative but to shut down services.”

First Transit, a U.S.-based, for-profit company subcontracted by BC Transit, was recently purchased by Transdev, a global corporation owned by a French sovereign wealth fund that has $1.3 trillion in assets—an amount equal to last year’s GDP for Australia and greater than the GDP of Spain or Indonesia.

“We find it hard to believe that a company with this much wealth refuses to pay our members what other transit operators in this region make. Without fair wages, public transit in the Fraser Valley will continue to suffer,” added Gibbons.

On March 16, BC Transit issued a statement to media expressing confidence in Transdev and its subsidiary’s operations in the region.

“Given First Transit’s steadfast refusal to address the concerns of our members, it’s clear that BC Transit’s confidence in Transdev is grossly misplaced. In our mind, BC Transit—a provincial Crown corporation responsible for public transit services—is abandoning the communities it is entrusted to serve. It is leaving our community and transit users at the mercy of a profit-driven foreign conglomerate with no connection to the Fraser Valley.”

BC Transit countered with their media release:

BC Transit is notifying its riders that CUPE Local 561 operating under First Transit has indicated increasing job action and will again cease service in the Agassiz-Harrison, Central Fraser Valley, Chilliwack and Hope transit systems as of the start of the scheduled service on Monday, March 20. This service suspension will remain in place until further notice, and will impact customers in the communities of Abbotsford, Agassiz-Harrison, Chilliwack, Hope, Mission and customers using the Fraser Valley Express.

handyDART service for customers requiring transportation to renal dialysis, cancer treatment and multiple sclerosis appointments in Abbotsford and Mission has been deemed essential and will continue to operate during this service disruption. All other pre-booked trips will be notified of cancellation.

BC Transit is closely monitoring the situation and sincerely apologizes to customers for the inconvenience caused by this matter. We understand the frustration felt by customers, and that the job action is difficult for everyone involved in the region.

BC Transit is the Provincial Crown Agency responsible for the delivery of transit services outside of Greater Vancouver. We contract the services of private operating companies to deliver these transit services. These companies hire and manage their own workforces.

The labour dispute is between BC Transit’s contractor – First Transit – and their unionized employees. BC Transit will update customers as more information becomes available. We encourage customers to sign up to receive alerts at bctransit.com. Customers may also follow @BCTransit on Twitter for updates.      

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