The union representing West Vancouver’s Blue Bus drivers and mechanics and the municipality that runs the local transit system have agreed to mediated talks in contract bargaining just ahead of a strike vote on Wednesday.
A mediator was appointed Monday by the Labour Relations Board following a joint request by the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 134 and the District of West Vancouver.
The contract for about 134 bus drivers and mechanics who operate buses in West Vancouver expired at the end of March. Since then, there have been seven bargaining meetings, said Donna Powers, spokeswoman for the municipality.
The union rejected the last offer from the district Aug. 24. Powers said that offer included a wage increase identical to the settlement reached between Coast Mountain Bus Company – the largest operational arm of TransLink – and its workers.
Speaking for the Amalgamated Transit Union, Bill Tieleman said wages aren’t the issue in the contract dispute. Tieleman said the issues involve concessions being sought by the district in working conditions and benefits.
Powers declined to discuss the issues being disputed.
The union is scheduled to hold a strike vote Wednesday but indicated there are no immediate plans to stop work. The union would have to issue 72-hour strike notice before workers could hit picket lines.
Both sides said they are still hopeful a negotiated settlement can be reached.
The District of West Vancouver operates the local Blue Bus system under contract to TransLink. The Blue Bus system has an annual budget of about $16 million and provides more than seven million passenger trips per year on 11 main bus routes.
