Bus service in the Fraser Valley halted as transit operators step up job action
Transportation strikes in the Fraser Valley have escalated this week, with commuters witnessing disruptions to bus services as unions rallied for help.
Fraser Valley bus service has been completely suspended for Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope, Mission and customers traveling on the Fraser Valley Express on Mondays and Tuesdays. HandyDart is not affected.
Now, transit agencies, armed with signs reading “Fight for Equity” and “No Pensions, No Service,” have rallied at Abbotsford City Hall and the BC Transit Operations Center to picket and mount pressure.
“If they book a date, I will be back at the table (negotiating) tomorrow morning.
“We started by not collecting fares for February. There was no response from the employer. So we had to escalate.”
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Fraser Valley bus drivers to suspend service Monday, Tuesday over contract dispute
The union claims its members’ wages are up to 32% lower than those of workers in Metro Vancouver.
“Everybody thinks we’re just BC Transit workers and we’re all doing the same thing. But the Fraser region brings communities to the Lower Mainland.” It’s a huge service, but employers don’t seem to think it’s a big deal,” Gibbons said.
“What happens next is up to the employer.”
Workers have not signed a contract since April 2020.
First Transit, the company under contract to operate services in Chilliwack, Abbotsford and surrounding areas, said it was focused on continuing constructive negotiations, which is now scheduled for mid-March. .
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