While the bus operators and their employer are returning to the bargaining table, talks between the SkyTrain workers’ union and BC Rapid Transit Company (BCRTC) have come to a halt.
CUPE 7000 represents around 900 SkyTrain workers who have been working without a contract since August 2019.
Despite meeting over 40 times since May, the union said negotiations with BCRTC have reached an “impasse” after the company’s latest offer “failed to address key issues.”
“The company has failed to offer fair wages or address the sick plan, inadequate staffing levels, forced overtime, and other issues important to our members,” said CUPE 7000 President Tony Rebelo in a November 13 press release.
The union will be turning to its members to decide how to move forward.
BCRTC released a statement a few hours later, saying that it was considering mediation.
“The offer we have put forward aligns with public sector settlements in British Columbia today,” said BCRTC President Michel Ladrak in the statement. “We are open to further discussing what has been offered and urge the union to continue negotiating with us.”
CUPE 7000 represents Expo and Millennium line employees. Canada Line workers are represented by the BC Government and Service Employees Union, so the Canada Line would remain unaffected by potential job action.
Meanwhile, Unifor — the union representing around 5,000 bus operators and transit maintenance workers — said it would escalate job action on Friday if it can’t reach an agreement with the Coast Mountain Bus Company.
So far, maintenance workers are refusing to work overtime, but that could expand to bus operators by tomorrow.
UBC has been posting notices on its website regarding transit disruptions and has yet to acknowledge possible SkyTrain job action. But for bus disruptions, the university has said it would be business as usual.