Cowichan Valley food bank says months-long bus strike creating hardship for low-income residents

Five months into a job action that has brought public transit in the Cowichan Valley to a halt, frustration and anxiety are mounting. Locals say it's taken a toll on the lives of low-income residents and has cost some their jobs.

The strike that began on Feb. 8 is the longest transit contract dispute in B.C.'s history, according to Unifor. The union represents about 50 regular and HandyDART bus drivers, maintenance workers, and cleaners who are affected.

Henry Wikkerink, manager of the Cowichan Valley Basket Society food bank and soup kitchen in Duncan, said some locals were hopeful that the proposal put forward by a provincially-appointed mediator would lead to a resolution – but workers voted on July 6 to reject the recommended deal.

"There's huge frustration about the bus strike and I mean, people have lost their jobs over it because they can't get to work," said Wikkerink.

"It just keeps going on and that creates anxiety."

While residents are generally supportive of the workers, he says it's been a difficult time for low-income people who rely on the rural community's transit system. Some haven't been able to access the food bank and other critical resources in town, and a number of volunteers have stopped coming in.

Seventy-seven-year-old Lake Cowichan resident Gerald Watson says to get to Duncan, he now has to spend more than $80 on a taxi, get a ride from a friend, or walk for hours.

The Cowichan Valley, located north of Victoria, has 15 bus routes covering more than 45 kilometres, north to south. About 90,000 people live in the valley, which B.C. Transit says has an average of about 1,800 weekly bus boardings.

"I've been contacted by residents who are facing challenges getting out to buy groceries, to get to work, to get to medical appointments, to get to bank appointments," said North Cowichan Mayor Rob Douglas in an interview with All Points West. 

"We're just hoping that this comes to an end sometime soon." 

Union to discuss next steps

The primary concerns driving the dispute, according to Unifor, are challenges around wages, breaks, and bathroom access for drivers.

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

Transdev is a private company that B.C. Transit contracts to provide bus services in the region. In June, Transdev and the union applied to the labour minister for a mediator to help end the dispute. The mediator's recommendations were issued on June 30, but workers rejected it.

Transdev, issued a statement following the union's rejection of this proposal saying that it had included improvements to working conditions and a starting wage that was $7.85 more than that of drivers in Victoria. The company declined an interview for this story.

"Transdev supported the mediators' recommended settlement, believing it was both generous and sustainable — recognizing the critical contribution of our teams while ensuring long-term service viability," said Emily Watson, senior vice president of Transdev for Western Canada in a statement.

"The proposal included an increase to the top rate for drivers that would have them earning $76,000 a year in 2027."

Unifor national representative Gavin Davies said that while the proposal would allow for new drivers to earn more than those in Victoria, it introduced a "step rate" which even after five years would have drivers earning less than those in other transit systems. 

While there was some improvement to bathroom access, Davies says its remains a critical sticking point. At the Village Green Mall, a main hub for transit in the valley, drivers have to use a public bathroom at a nearby store – which is sometimes closed, in poor condition, or occupied by members of the public.

To end the strike, some elements Davies says members want to see are a private bathroom for drivers at the mall, similar to what drivers can access in other regions, and future wage increases tied to those of drivers in Victoria.

"What we've seen over the decades is an ever increasing wage gap, between Victoria Transit and other transit systems."

Unifor senior leadership plan to meet early this week to discuss next steps.

In the meantime, Davies acknowledged the toll the strike has had on community members.

"'Sorry' falls quite short of what it is to describe how we feel, we're really upset about that," he said. 

"Strikes unfortunately do cause hardships not only on the striking workers, but also on individuals within the community."