West Vancouver transit workers to strike Monday

The union representing bus drivers and transit workers in West Vancouver says its 149 members will go on strike indefinitely starting Monday.

"We made no progress today in the talks, so more pressure has to be put on the employer and unfortunately that means a full strike," said Bill Tieleman, speakingfor the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 134.

The union's 149 members drivers and mechanics operate 52 buses that make 18,000 trips per day, according to Tieleman.

"We are extremely disappointed and extremely frustrated with West Vancouver District being the only municipality in British Columbia that won't negotiate a new collective agreement with its transit workers," said union president Geoff Devlin in a written statement.

He says the employer is still requesting concessions on worker benefit packages and will not meet a need to retain mechanics.

• Last ditch effort could avert West Vancouver bus strike Monday

Strike 'will hurt'

Meanwhile the District of West Vancouver says it has not asked for any concessions to existing benefitsfrom the transit union and hasoffered a fair wage and benefits package.

"By proceeding with this unnecessary strike, the transit union will be causing hardship forthose who depend on Blue Bus, especially students and seniors," district spokesmanJeff McDonald said in a written statement.

McDonaldsaid the districtmade"significant movements" in talks on Sunday and a full strike could have been avoided.

The union has been in a legal strike position since Sunday. Tieleman says the strikewill go on indefinitely as no new negotiations are planned with a mediator.

Bus to ferry terminalalso affected

Already this past week an overtime ban led to the cancellation of dozens of trips each day on the West Vancouver service.

West Vancouver operates about a dozen suburban routes in the Blue Bus system.

The strike will also affectthe 257 route the main express bus servicethat connects Metro Vancouver's public transit system to the BC Ferries terminal at Horseshoe Bay.

Greyhound and Tofino Bus also run buses that connect with the ferries about four times a day from the Vancouver bus station.

The union's contract with the District of West Vancouver expired March 31, 2016 and negotiations began in May.

According to the union, this will bethe first strike in 100 years of West Vancouver bus service.