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METRO VANCOUVER –The union representing transit operators, skilled trades, SeaBus and support workers say the new funding plan announced today by the federal, provincial and municipal governments won’t put a single additional bus on the road in Metro Vancouver. Unifor says this is a recipe for further over-crowding and won’t help under-serviced areas.
Unifor BC Area Director Gavin McGarrigle says it’s clear that while the federal government and Metro Vancouver mayors are bringing new funding to provide more transit, the provincial government is refusing to commit additional money needed to get up to 500 buses on the road as soon as possible.
“We appreciate the federal and municipal funding but the province is simply not doing it’s share yet—and that means long suffering bus riders will get no relief from anything announced today,” McGarrigle said. “We are still years away from putting new buses on the road, getting new routes in place, improving both rush hour and night bus service—that’s not acceptable.”
Unifor Local 111 president Nathan Woods, representing 3,700 transit operators, says the funding does not provide the increase in service that the Mayors’ Council Plan proposed.
“This is not the plan that will deal with the one million people coming to Metro Vancouver in the next 30 years and it’s not even able to provide any additional bus service for years to come,” Woods said. “We support more rapid transit in the future but the need for buses is overwhelming and it’s right now.”
Unifor Local 2200 President Joe Elworthy, representing 1,000 skilled trades, SeaBus and support workers, says a new SeaBus will be helpful to commuters but without more buses on both sides of the water it will have limited usefulness.
“Whether it’s SeaBus or SkyTrain or a new LRT, the bus system is the backbone of our transit service and not addressing the bus shortage that exists right now is a significant mistake that must be corrected,” Elworthy said.
McGarrigle says Unifor will continue to fight for improved transit that includes more buses as soon as possible.
“Hundreds of thousands of workers depend on our bus system every day to get to their workplaces and home again,” said McGarrigle. “It’s time the provincial government understood that adequate bus service is a critical part of our economy – not a frill.”
For more information: Gavin McGarrigle at cell 778-668-6455 or Nathan Woods office 604-519-1110 ext. 2288 or cell (604) 790-1465 or Joe Elworthy at cell 604-328-8724 or Bill Tieleman, West Star Communications, at cell 778-896-0964 or office 604-844-7827.
