/
/
/
/
/
CUPE 4500 welcomes appointment of special mediator; announces next strike escalation

CUPE 4500 welcomes appointment of special mediator; announces next strike escalation

BURNABY โ€“ CUPE 4500 is welcoming the appointment of Mr. Vince Ready as special mediator to help the union and Coast Mountain Bus Company/TransLink reach a settlement. The union, however, says if the special mediatorโ€™s recommendations donโ€™t lead to a tentative agreement, transit supervisors will be withdrawing services.

โ€œWe are prepared to continue our work with Mr. Ready. If anyone can help us reach a deal, itโ€™s him,โ€ says Liam Oโ€™Neill, spokesperson for CUPE 4500, representing over 180 transit supervisors at Coast Mountain. โ€œBut for this process to be successful, Coast Mountain and TransLink are going to need to show some willingness to find common ground. Their past conduct in mediation leaves us skeptical.โ€

CUPE 4500 members have been on strike since January 6, when they began an overtime ban. The union escalated its strike action with a 48-hours withdrawal of services earlier this week. CUPE 4500 will maintain the overtime ban during the special mediatorโ€™s process and will not be escalating to any other actions until the recommendations are received on February 2, 2024.

โ€œWeโ€™re committed to working with the special mediator. We hope his recommendations might show us a path to a fair collective agreement. If not, CUPE 4500 members will be left with no choice but to take the next step,โ€ says Oโ€™Neill. โ€œIf we donโ€™t have a tentative agreement by 12:01 a.m. February 3, CUPE 4500 members will be withdrawing services for 72-hours.โ€

If the Labour Board permits it, CUPE 4500 intends to expand picketing sites to include other TransLink locations as part of this next strike escalation. This picketing will include SkyTrain stations and other operations.

 โ€œIf the option is open to CUPE 4500, we will be picketing SkyTrain operations in addition to Coast Mountain. This will effectively shut down all buses, the SeaBus, and all SkyTrain lines for three days,โ€ says Oโ€™Neill. โ€œWe are running out of options with Coast Mountain and TransLink. CUPE 4500 members have been more than patient, and the union has done all it can to get the fair deal our members deserve.โ€

Share this

Transportation News

CUPE 4500 accepts special mediator recommendations; urges Coast Mountain to follow

CUPE 4500 accepts special mediator recommendations; urges Coast Mountain to follow

February 1, 2024
BURNABY โ€“ CUPE 4500, the union representing over 180 striking transit supervisors in the Lower Mainland, is accepting the special mediatorโ€™s recommendations aimed at ending the unionโ€™s strike against Coast Mountain…
BURNABY โ€“ CUPE 4500, the union representing over 180 striking transit supervisors in the Lower Mainland, is accepting the special mediatorโ€™s recommendations aimed at ending the unionโ€™s strike against Coast Mountain...

CUPE 4500ย membersย withdrawing all services from Coast Mountainย Bus Company

CUPE 4500ย membersย withdrawing all services from Coast Mountainย Bus Company

January 22, 2024
BURNABY โ€“ CUPE 4500 and Coast Mountain Bus Company concluded mediation today but were unable to reach a tentative agreement. Without a settlement in place, CUPE 4500 members will be withdrawing all services from Coast Mountain Bus…
BURNABY โ€“ CUPE 4500 and Coast Mountain Bus Company concluded mediation today but were unable to reach a tentative agreement. Without a settlement in place, CUPE 4500 members will be withdrawing all services from Coast Mountain Bus...

Without a fair deal, Lower Mainland transit supervisors set to expand strike action next week

Without a fair deal, Lower Mainland transit supervisors set to expand strike action next week

January 18, 2024
BURNABYโ€” If a fair collective agreement is not reached before January 22, Lower Mainland transit supervisors will be escalating their strike, effectively shutting down all bus services. CUPE 4500, the…
BURNABYโ€” If a fair collective agreement is not reached before January 22, Lower Mainland transit supervisors will be escalating their strike, effectively shutting down all bus services. CUPE 4500, the...