B.C. Minister of Labour Harry Bains has appointed veteran mediator Vince Ready as a special mediator for the ongoing contractual dispute between Metro Vancouver transit supervisors represented by CUPE Local 4500, and the Coast Mountain Bus Company.
On Wednesday, as supervisors returned to work after a 48-hour strike that saw a complete shutdown of bus service in the metropolitan region, Bains said Ready’s engagement with the two sides will seek to reach an agreement, particularly on wages.
"As of tomorrow, Jan. 25, 2024, Ready will work with the parties for a period of up to six days to secure a resolution. If a settlement cannot be reached within this timeline, he will issue non-binding recommendations on Feb. 2, 2024, with both parties having five days to either accept or reject the recommendations,” said Bains.
Ready had already engaged the two sides in private mediation, before the strike notice was issued.
More than 180 transit supervisors in the Lower Mainland are represented by CUPE Local 4500.
According to the company, supervisors have been offered a 13.5 per cent increase over three years, starting from Jan. 1, 2023, when the old three-year contract expired.
That brings a transit supervisor’s salary to $104,886, from $92,415.
The company says the union’s offer is a 25 per cent increase, to a salary of $115,477.
The supervisors have been without a contract since Dec.31, 2022 and say the company only started negotiating with them last October.
The company says its offer aligns with offers accepted by other unions.
If an agreement is not reached Bains could order the supervisors not to strike again, deeming them an essential service.
