Buses halted in Metro Vancouver as transit workers go on strike

Buses will not run Monday in Metro Vancouver after more than 180 workers represented by CUPE Local 4500 walked off the job.

The job action, which began at 3 a.m. PT, comes three weeks after the workers began refusing overtime. The union represents transit supervisors, communications supervisors and a range of other roles.

Talks between the union and the Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC), the workers' employer, conducted with the assistance of veteran labour mediator Vince Ready, failed to produce a new collective agreement over the weekend.

CMBC is a subsidiary of TransLink, the regional transit authority for Metro Vancouver. 

Here is what you need to know about the strike.

The striking workers help ensure buses and SeaBuses work smoothly, which means both those services will not run during the strike.

TransLink says none of the routes operated by CMBC will be operational, including the 214 service between Blueridge and Phibbs Exchange in North Vancouver, during the morning and evening rush hours.

The 214 service will run at other times of the day during the strike, however.

TransLink says its other services — SkyTrain, West Coast Express, HandyDART, West Vancouver Blue Bus and the Bowen Island and Langley community shuttles — will still run during the strike.

However, CUPE Local 7000, which represents rapid transit and rail workers, sent out a bulletin Sunday warning members of potential disruptions at SkyTrain.

Tony Rebelo with CUPE Local 7000 said Sunday that members wouldn't be crossing lines should they be set up around SkyTrain stations.

The bulletin said CUPE 4500 had made a Labour Relations Board complaint against TransLink, the B.C. Rapid Transit Company, West Coast Express, and Protrans for trying to "reduce the impact" on transit riders during the escalating strike action.

TransLink spokesperson Tina Lovgreen said in an email that the company expects all SkyTrain lines to "operate as normal'' Monday.

"At this time, CUPE Local 4500 can only legally picket bus and SeaBus," she said.