Striking Vancouver Island transit workers to vote on mediator recommendations this weekend

12 hour_ago 2

British Columbia

The strike, which began connected Feb. 8 and is the longest transit declaration quality successful the province's history, affects astir 50 regular and HandyDART bus drivers, attraction workers and cleaners successful the portion northbound of Victoria.

Longest transit declaration quality successful B.C. past affects astir 90,000 transit users

Maryse Zeidler · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 04, 2025 8:41 PM EDT | Last Updated: 7 hours ago

Three workers transportation sandwich boards speechmaking 'On Strike' connected a snowy day.

Transit workers who person been connected onslaught for months successful British Columbia's Cowichan Valley are scheduled to ballot Sunday connected a database of recommendations issued by a provincially-appointed mediator.

Unifor, the national representing the workers, said the mediator delivered his study connected Monday, and the workers were offered a transcript connected Tuesday.

"They're disappointed," Unifor nationalist typical Gavin Davies told CBC News.

"They don't consciousness that the recommendations went acold enough."

Cowichan Valley commuters frustrated arsenic transit onslaught drags on

Stranded transit riders successful B.C.'s Cowichan Valley connected Vancouver Island are expressing their frustrations arsenic the section transit onslaught nears the four-month mark. As Claire Palmer reports, riders privation to spot work resume immediately.

Weeks to get rolling

Davies said the workers' superior issues are wages, breaks, and bath entree for drivers. But helium emphasized that the vote will beryllium the existent trial of however workers consciousness astir the recommendations.

If the workers ratify the recommendations, Davies said, it could inactive instrumentality 2 oregon 3 weeks earlier buses get rolling due to the fact that they would request to beryllium recertified arsenic commercialized vehicles.

This is Vancouver Island14:51Island transit has gotten much chaotic. Here's why

Bus work has agelong been a occupation connected the island, and it’s adjacent much challenging now. We drawback you up connected the onslaught astatine Cowichan Valley Transit, and the cancellation of a autobus way from Ucluelet and Tofino to Port Alberni. Plus, we effort to find retired if - oregon erstwhile - things mightiness improve.

If the workers ballot against the recommendations, Davies said, the workers could spell to binding arbitration oregon beryllium mandated to instrumentality to enactment by the province.

The leader and transit operator Transdev, a backstage institution contracted by B.C. Transit, told CBC News successful a written connection that it "remains committed to reaching a sustainable solution and resuming reliable work for our riders and the Cowichan Valley community."

45 kilometres of coverage

The onslaught has created challenges for many people successful the portion of astir 90,000 residents. The Cowichan Valley transit system covers much than 45 kilometres, northbound to south.

Service providers and elected officials person said it's the community's astir susceptible who are bearing the brunt of the strike.

Negotiators for Unifor locals 114 and 333 reached a woody with Transdev in April, but it was voted down by members.

In May, the politician of North Cowichan said it was time for the state to measurement up and assistance extremity the transit onslaught successful his region.

On June 10, B.C. Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside appointed a mediator, Dave Schaub, and called connected some sides to enactment with him.