Metro Vancouver transit drivers reach tentative deal with Coast Mountain Bus

Coast Mountain Bus Company and Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 reached a tentative contract agreement Saturday after months of bargaining that included job action and overwhelming union support for a strike.

Uniform Local 111 represents bus drivers, while Local 2200 represents skilled trades and service workers with the bus fleet and SeaBus workers. Together they represent the majority of the transit company's workforce.

Negotiations began in February but stalled until both sides returned to the negotiating table with a mediator on Saturday. During the standoff, union members took job action including refusing to wear uniforms and declining requests to give up break times when routes ran behind schedule. In May, union members voted to authorize strike action with more than 99 per cent support.

The tentative agreement provides additional detail around recovery and running time, according to the company, and is consistent with the framework established with other public sector unions. However, the specific terms have not been released. The deal now requires ratification from union members before it becomes final. The company has not stated when a ratification vote will occur.

As HOC reported in July, this is the second tentative deal reached with the unions after members rejected an earlier agreement in July.