Deal to end Sea-to-Sky bus strike greeted with relief from union, company, community
CBC
A deal has been reached to end the longest transit strike in B.C. history, both the union and employer have confirmed.
Unifor, the union representing striking Sea-to-Sky bus drivers and related workers in Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton said its workers voted to ratify a deal Tuesday to end the lengthy strike.
A spokesperson for the employer, PW Transit, a B.C. Transit contractor that operates bus service in the region told CBC that company management accepted the deal prior to the union's ratification vote.
That set the stage for buses to return to the communities' roads, to the relief of people living there.
"Oh, I'm obviously thrilled," said Isla Robertson, a receptionist in Whistler, after hearing about the deal.
"It's been a challenging few months to be without public transit, to be taking taxis to work and just not having the freedom to move around."
The strike has kept buses off the road since Jan. 29, leading to frustration for residents — especially low-wage service workers that power the region's famous tourism sector.
Robertson said putting aside the frustration of losing transit service, she supported the drivers throughout the dispute.
Early in the dispute, she started an online petition calling on PW to sign a deal with drivers that met their demands.
"It sounds like it's a good offer ... they obviously voted to accept it," Robertson said Tuesday.
"I think they've done a great job of staying strong and and persisting. I'm really happy for them as well."
Unifor, in a statement Tuesday, said the deal for approximately 80 workers includes wage increases, pension plan improvements and benefit coverage for part-time workers.
The deal calls for a pay raise of 13.5 per cent over five years plus a signing bonus.
The union is also hailing a "ground-breaking" cost of living adjustment recommended to the parties by special mediator Vince Ready that will see workers paid a top up if growing costs of living exceeds the workers' pay raises.
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