Talks broke down last week, and now a mediator has been appointed.
A complete shutdown of Metro Vancouver’s transit system remains a possibility after months of bootless discussions.
Locals have expressed concerns about a possible transit disruption during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held over most of June and the beginning of July. And recent talks between transit operators and their employer haven’t led to a resolution.
On Tuesday (May 26), the Unifor local unions representing transit operators voted 99 per cent in favour of strike action toward their employer, Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC).
Unifor Local 111 represents transit operators, while Local 2200 represents skilled trades, service and SeaBus workers. Together, the two local unions represent more than 5,000 transit workers across Metro Vancouver.
Soon after the vote in May, Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western regional director, said CMBC knew exactly where the unions stood and that they “weren’t asking for the world.”
He added: “They are asking for a fair contract that keeps pace with the cost of living in one of the most expensive cities in the country. The sooner the employer recognizes that, the sooner we get a deal.”
CMBC says it remained committed to reaching a fair agreement.
●Metro Vancouver transit strike: Current update
The joint bargaining committee returned to the table to continue negotiations on Monday, June 1. But no strike date had been set.
Negotiations from June 1 to 5 did not result in an agreement. Both parties agreed to continue mediated discussions. The mediator is appointed as an unbiased third party to help them work toward a settlement.
On Thursday (June 11), a Unifor spokesperson provided the following update to Vancouver Is Awesome.
“The union and Coast Mountain Bus Company have mediation dates scheduled later this month. The union’s priority remains negotiating a fair and equitable collective agreement for our members.”
They didn’t provide an earliest possible strike date, although the statement suggests that commuters may avoid a disruption in June. But that doesn’t mean FIFA World Cup celebrations won’t be impacted in July.
After securing a strike mandate, the union must also issue a 72-hour notice under the Canada Labour Code.
source: Richmond News photo: TrankLink
