CUPE 7000, the union representing 900 SkyTrain workers, has ratified the union's tentative agreement with the BC Rapid Transit Company (SkyTrain).
Earlier this month, CUPE 7000 reached a tentative agreement with the BC Rapid Transit Company (SkyTrain) on Dec. 10 after an all-night mediated bargaining session. A three-day transit strike of the Expo and Millennium lines was narrowly avoided when the union stated that it would not proceed with strike action.
The ratification was completed Sunday, Dec. 22 in the afternoon following four days of electronic voting.
“This ratification concludes a very challenging round of bargaining and reflects the strong mandate that our bargaining committee received from members,” said CUPE 7000 President Tony Rebelo. “We couldn’t have reached this agreement without the dedication of those committee members, whose resolve held firm under difficult circumstances.”
The new four-year agreement, retroactive to Sept. 1, 2019, features several improvements aimed at addressing affordability and wage fairness across the various professions represented by SkyTrain workers. The contract includes a general wage increase of 3 per cent annually.
“Like others across the B.C. South Coast, our members have struggled with affordability partly because of wages not keeping pace with true cost of living increases,” said Rebelo. “Our hope is that in securing wage fairness for our members, we will also help other workers across the region achieve fair wages and greater financial security for their families.”
On Nov. 21, CUPE 7000 members cast a 96.8-per-cent strike vote; the last contract expired on Aug. 31, 2019.
“We are pleased to have been advised that BCRTC employees represented by CUPE 7000 have voted in favour of a new collective agreement. We appreciate that for our customers this has been an uncertain time and would like to thank them for their patience during negotiations," TransLink told Vancouver Is Awesome in an email.
CUPE 7000 represents approximately 900 SkyTrain workers who provide service as SkyTrain attendants and control operators as well as administration, maintenance, and technical staff.
