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BC Rapid Transit Company responds to SkyTrain union announcement

Michel Ladrak, President of BCRTC has responded to the CUPE 7000 announcement, stating that BCRTC would remain committed to the bargaining process.

 Photo: SkyTrain cars turn a corner at Gilmore station in Burnaby.Photo: SkyTrain cars turn a corner at Gilmore station in Burnaby.

Earlier today, CUPE Local 7000, the union representing 900 SkyTrain workers, stated that its negotiations with the BC Rapid Transit Company (SkyTrain) reached an impasse and that it would go to union members to seek direction for its next steps.

CUPE 7000 President Tony Rebelo remarked that, “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."

Michel Ladrak, President of BC Rapid Transit Company has responded to the CUPE 7000 announcement, stating that BCRTC would remain committed to the bargaining process.

“Following six months of negotiation and an offer being presented to CUPE 7000 by British Columbia Rapid Transit Company (BCRTC), the union has declared an impasse in negotiations.  They have advised that they will be holding a meeting with their members to discuss their next steps," said Ladrak.

“We remain committed to the bargaining process and have suggested the parties take part in mediation to help resolve the current issues.  The offer we have put forward aligns with public sector settlements in British Columbia today.  We are open to further discussing what has been offered and urge the union to continue negotiating with us.”

TransLink adds that Canada Line and West Coast Express are not affected by these negotiations. 

Unifor, the union representing bus operators and transit maintenance workers, has announced that inaction from the employer will cause further transit disruptions by the end of the week.

Unifor notes that if the employer cannot bring new offers to the negotiations, it will introduce a one-day overtime ban for transit operators on Friday, Nov. 15. Further, it adds that it will consider additional overtime bans next week, too.

Since the dispute began, over 100 Seabus sailings have been cancelled and the impacts of an overtime ban in maintenance have begun to impact numerous bus routes across the region.

TransLink has stated that it will continue to update riders about service cancellations, but that it won’t be able to say which bus routes will be affected as a result of strike action. Find out more information here.