Burnaby transit riders passing through Production Way-University station Wednesday afternoon say they’re concerned about the effects of a total shutdown of Metro Vancouver buses, although at least one of them expressed support for the union.
Unifor, which represents bus and Seabus operators working for the Coast Mountain Bus Company, is expected to hit the picket lines and shut down the buses for three days next week, from Wednesday, Nov. 27 to Friday, Nov. 29. The action is the latest threat in an escalating dispute between Unifor and CMBC, while other transit unions explore their options on similar contract negotiations.
One bus driver told the NOW he wished the parties would come to an agreement, noting the previous contract ended in the spring. He said he fully supports Unifor and the strike.
Riders said they also hoped for the two parties to come to an agreement to de-escalate before next Wednesday’s escalation.
One rider said he’s doubly concerned SkyTrain workers, represented by CUPE, could also hit the picket lines after
“I work in construction; I take transit everywhere. If that goes, I’m screwed, and I’m going to watch my money go out the door, and I’m going to get evicted. That’s how bad this … is,” said one rider, who didn’t give a name.
Erica Paradis, another rider, said she relies on transit to get from Kitsilano to SFU – a long trek without a bus, and even longer should SkyTrains be affected.
“For students, it’s very difficult,” Paradis said. “For me to come all the way to SFU, I’m going to have to find someone to carpool with, for sure, because I can’t take a taxi that distance. … There’s a lot of students with cars, but then it causes problems on the other end – where do you park all these cars?”
That being said, Paradis said she fully supports the transit workers in the strike.
“You just have to accept it. It’s part of being a citizen. I take advantage of these services, but when there’s a problem, I have to support change,” she said.
Travis Lagasse, another construction worker, said he was fortunate and was able to find a ride for the three days of the shutdown.
“If I didn’t find a ride, I didn’t know what I was going to do,” he said, adding it’s about an hour-and-a-half on transit between his home and work. “I’d be walking eight hours. … I hope they can work it out, but it doesn’t seem like they’re going to be working it out anytime soon. It looks like it’s going to be 2001 all over again, which is not good.”
In 2001, the bus strike left the city without service for 123 days before the B.C. Liberals used back-to-work legislation. The B.C. NDP, however, has said it isn’t interested in intervening in the current strike.
