Fraser Valley bus drivers set to launch full scale strike Monday

Over 200 drivers and other workers that keep Fraser Valley buses moving are set to strike Monday, according to their union, bringing transit to essential service levels only.

The Fraser Valley bus system serves Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, Agassiz, Harrison and Hope. It also runs an express bus as far west as Burnaby.

A spokesperson for CUPE 561 told CBC News that three days of talks this week yielded no progress on a new collective agreement.

At the start of Monday's service day, the spokesperson said only HandyDart service will remain on the road — providing essential services such as the transport of patients needing dialysis and cancer treatments.

The CUPE spokesperson said the only thing that would avert job action would be last-minute talks on the weekend.

On Sunday afternoon, CUPE national representative Liam O'Neill said no new talks have taken place.

"The employer isn't budging on doing anything with wages or pension," he said.

He says members will be setting up picket lines in Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Mission on Monday.

B.C. Transit says dispute is between contractor and union

B.C. Transit estimates weekday service in the largest communities — Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Mission — sees roughly 13,000 boardings.

It has repeatedly said the dispute is between First Transit, which operates Fraser Valley bus service on the authority's behalf and the union. It has previously said it is monitoring the situation and apologized for any disruptions.

Earlier in the negotiations, First Transit  said it had offered workers "significant wage increases on par with trends across the province, as well as structural improvements to enhance reliability of service."

"First Transit feels strongly that its offer balances the needs of all stakeholders in the Fraser Valley's transit system with our desire to ensure we are able to continue to attract and retain skilled and talented workers," a company statement read.

A First Transit spokesperson said the company would comment further Friday morning.

Escalating actions

CUPE says the key issues are a wage gap between Fraser Valley bus drivers and other drivers, working conditions and the need for a pension.

Fraser Valley drivers make 32 per cent less than drivers in neighbouring systems, the union has said. CBC has not been told which transit systems the union is looking at to reach that figure.

CUPE adds many drivers are forced to work long hours of standby time for which they receive less than $3 per hour. The lack of a pension plan has some drivers concerned about their retirement.

CUPE issued strike notice on Jan. 30, and drivers stopped collecting fares a few days earlier.

The buses were parked in late February and last week when drivers stopped work for two and then three days, respectively.

The past 12 months have seen transit drivers in a number of areas — the Sea-to-Sky, West Vancouver, Kelowna — turn to strikes and job action to get better collective agreements.

Union leaders have consistently said the need to deal with increasing costs of living is a major influence on workers' demands.