Coast Mountain Bus seeks mediation after strike vote
Union representing 5,000 transit workers voted 99% in favour of strike action; employer and Unifor now negotiating with mediator present.
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After unionized workers voted overwhelmingly to strike, Coast Mountain Bus Company and Unifor are back at the bargaining table with a mediator in the room.
Members of Unifor Local 111 and Local 2200 — representing over 5,000 workers — voted 99 per cent in favour of strike action in late May. That mandate gave union leadership the ability to escalate toward a legal strike. No strike date has been set, and no 72-hour notice has been filed, but the pressure is now on both sides to move.
CMBC released a brief statement Friday: "We and Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 have agreed to continue discussions with the assistance of mediation. CMBC remains committed to reaching a fair agreement and will not be commenting further at this time."
Unifor National President Lana Payne had framed the 99 per cent vote as a clear message. "These workers keep Metro Vancouver moving every single day, and they deserve a contract that reflects their value, their skill, and the cost of living in the region."
The timing carries weight — the FIFA World Cup kicks off in just over a week, and a transit strike during the event would be catastrophic for the city. The mediation development suggests both parties recognize the stakes. A bus strike would also affect SeaBus workers.
The move toward mediation is a step in the right direction, but negotiations remain unresolved.