Metro Vancouver transit workers vote 99 per cent in favour of strike action

Noah Chen

5/28/20262 min read

Metro Vancouver transit workers have delivered an overwhelming strike mandate, with 99 per cent of voting members backing possible job action as contract talks with Coast Mountain Bus Company remain unresolved. The vote covers roughly 5,000 workers represented by Unifor Locals 111 and 2200, including bus operators, maintenance staff, SeaBus crews, Community Transit operators and spareboard members across the region.

The result does not automatically trigger a strike, but it gives the union the legal option to move ahead with a 72-hour strike notice if bargaining fails to produce meaningful progress. Unifor says no strike date has been set and negotiations are scheduled to resume on Monday, June 1.

Union says workers are rejecting concessions

Unifor says bargaining began in February ahead of the expiry of the previous collective agreement on March 31, but talks deteriorated after the employer pushed concession demands. According to the union, members are refusing to accept rollbacks and want a contract that reflects both the cost of living in Metro Vancouver and the realities of the job.

Union leaders say the dispute goes beyond wages. They have pointed to concerns over health and safety, retirement dignity, washroom access for operators and other working conditions that members believe should be improved, not weakened.

CMBC says service is continuing

Coast Mountain Bus Company says it acknowledges the strike vote and remains committed to reaching a fair negotiated settlement. The company has also said bus and SeaBus operations continue as normal for now, and it has declined to comment in greater detail because bargaining is set to resume.

That means there is currently no immediate disruption for riders, even though the strike vote significantly raises pressure on the employer ahead of the next bargaining session.

A strong warning ahead of next talks

The size of the mandate sends a clear message that members are united and prepared to escalate if needed. Unifor has said the employer should not underestimate that resolve and should remove concession demands if it wants to reach a deal quickly.

For now, the dispute remains at the bargaining table. But if Monday’s talks fail to produce what the union sees as real movement, Metro Vancouver could be much closer to another serious transit labour confrontation.

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