-

Possible January transit disruptions loom as CUPE 4500, Coast Mountain Bus Company head to mediation

BURNABY, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CUPE Local 4500, representing more than 180 Lower Mainland transit workers employed by the Coast Mountain Bus Company, will sit for two days of mediation with the company on January 2 and 3 after the collective bargaining process broke down earlier this month.

The parties remain divided over working conditions and fair compensation, with workers seeking measures to address unmanageable workloads. The union goes into mediation with a solid mandate for job action: union members voted 100 per cent in favour when a strike vote was held on December 12.

“Our members go to work every day to help Lower Mainland residents and visitors safely and efficiently get where they need to go,” said CUPE 4500 President Chris Gindhu. “For us to do our jobs effectively, we need the company to keep pace with staffing levels and maintain the fair compensation needed to retain workers.”

Gindhu said that the strike vote went unreported until now to avoid needless concern about possible service disruptions during the holiday season. He said the union is committed to working hard to avoid transit service disruptions.

“Our members’ daily work is dedicated to ensuring there are no disruptions in transit service to the public, so we are working hard to avoid job action. However, we can’t do it alone and need the company to enter mediation with that same commitment.”

Gindhu said the union will decline further comment in respect of the mediation process.

CUPE 4500 members employed by Coast Mountain work as transit supervisors, maintenance supervisors, service supervisors, tireperson supervisors, TComm staff, field service trainers, engineers, and warranty administrators, as well as supervisors for the parts department, body shop, trolley overhead, and fare box staff.

The last collective agreement expired on December 31, 2022.

COPE491

Contacts

Dan Gawthrop, CUPE Communications Representative: 604.999.6132

Industry:

CUPE

Release Versions
English

Contacts

Dan Gawthrop, CUPE Communications Representative: 604.999.6132

More News From CUPE

UNIONS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER 

EDMONTON, AB--(BUSINESS WIRE)--“Attacks on working people over the last year show us that Albertans need strong unions now more than ever,” says CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal. “The annual celebration of Labour Day across Alberta gives us the opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate the working folks who make our province run. “A one-day strike at WestJet last month was enough to show what united workers can achieve. Corporations continue to unfairly rake in record profits on the backs of wo...

“Make a real offer, or pick an arbitrator” - CUPE holds province-wide day of action to call out delays in negotiations with Extendicare

Markham, ON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For months, 8 CUPE locals representing over 1100 Long-Term Care workers across Ontario have been kept waiting for a fair contract. Where other workers would have been able to go on strike to force the employer back to the table, these workers are denied that right under the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act (HLDAA), forcing them into a long and drawn-out process to get a fair contract. CUPE’s Extendicare Central Table last heard from their employer on June 2...

Care Can’t Wait! Long-Term Care workers hold province wide day of action calling out delays in contract negotiations with Extendicare

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For months, 8 CUPE locals representing over 1100 long term care workers across Ontario have been kept waiting for a fair contract. Where other workers would have been able to go on strike to force the employer back to the table, these workers are denied that right under the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act (HLDAA), forcing them into a long and drawn-out process to get a fair contract. CUPE’s Extendicare Central Table last heard from their employer on June 29, 20...
Back to Newsroom