Unifor members ratify historic Metro Vancouver transit contract

VANCOUVER—Members of Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) after engaging in strike activity for close to a month.

 

“Unifor members worked together to make these historic gains,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Metro Vancouver transit workers will see significant improvements to wages, benefits, and working conditions as a result of this new agreement.”

 

Highlights of the agreement include significant progress toward reducing the wage gap with Toronto’s transit operators, adjustments to achieve wage parity for CMBC skilled trades workers with SkyTrain skilled trades workers, and increases in a variety of benefits and shift premiums. For the first time, the contract sets out guaranteed minimum rest and recovery allowances of 45 minutes and stronger language designed to improve washroom break access and facilities.

 

Transit operators and non-trades workers will receive a two per cent wage increase retroactive to April 1, a one per cent increase today, and a three per cent increase in each of the next two years.  Conventional transit operators will see immediate wage gains of 98 cents per hour, a further $1.01 increase on April 1, 2020, and an additional $1.04 on April 1, 2021 for a total of $3.03 over the life of the three-year contract.

 

Skilled trades workers receive the same two per cent retroactive pay, an additional $1.95 per hour increase today to bring wages level with SkyTrain skilled trades workers, and two per cent in each of the next two years. Contract language ensures that CMBC skilled trades wages do not fall behind during the life of the agreement.

 

Wage summary:

 

·       April 1, 2019 + 2% Retro

·       On Ratification + 1%

·       April 1, 2020 + 3%

·       April 1, 2021 + 3%

 

·       April 1, 2019 + 2% Retro

·       On Ratification + $1.95  Parity with BCRTC skilled trades (SkyTrain)

·       April 1, 2020 + 2% *

·       April 1, 2021 + 2% *

 

Nearly 5,000 transit workers represented by Unifor ended a 27-day strike on November 27 when a tentative agreement was reached at the eve of a three-day transit system shutdown.

 

“Our members took collective action to reach this deal but public outreach and support was critical to getting the employer to understand the broad support for our contract proposals,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Western Regional Director and lead negotiator. “Transit workers represented by Unifor should be very proud of what they accomplished.”

 

Transit workers were heartened by the support they received from members of the public, and thank them for the solidarity: “Our members heard kind and supportive remarks from passengers every day since the uniform ban began,” said Balbir Mann, president of Unifor Local 111. “When we work together to improve the region’s transit infrastructure, everyone wins.”

 

Mike Smith, president of Unifor Local 2200 representing skilled trades workers and technicians agreed: “Passengers and transit workers are on the same side. The campaign for a first-class transit system includes transit workers’ rights.”