West Vancouver Blue Bus riders can be thankful this weekend as a labour dispute between the Amalgamated Transit Union local 134 and the District of West Vancouver has reached an amicable end.
After voting 96.5 per cent in favour of rejecting the district’s final contract offer on Sept 27, the two sides reach a tentative agreement on Thursday. Negotiators are recommending that the union vote to ratify the offer on Oct. 17.
“There was an overwhelming authorization for strike if necessary, so the union is happy we’ve come to an agreement,” said Bill Tielman, union spokesman.
The union and district had already agreed on wage increases of zero per cent for 2012, two per cent in 2013 and two per cent in 2014, similar to a deal reached between Coast Mountain Bus Company. But the two sides remained separated other unspecified issues.
“I think it’s fair to say that the district would have made concessions and the union would have made some as well,” said Jeff McDonald, district spokesman. “We’re pleased that, at the moment, it looks like we’ll be able to avoid service disruptions for people who depend on the Blue Bus.”
