“Our members’ goal has always been to get a fair contract at the bargaining table,” said BCGEU president Stephanie Smith in a statement. “Bargaining isn’t easy at the best of times and bargaining during a pandemic is definitely not the best of times. Our members showed incredible solidarity under extremely challenging circumstances and they got it done.”
The negotiations were between BCGEU and Protrans BC, a subsidiary of Quebec-based engineering firm SNC-Lavalin.
About 180 workers on the Canada Line have been without a contract since the end of 2019, when their previous contract expired. Canada Line workers voted 98% in favour of strike action in November 2020.
The union representing workers on a key commuter link between Richmond and Vancouver says it has reached a tentative agreement with their members employer.
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A union representing Canada Line transit workers in Metro Vancouver says talks continued Monday evening after a 72-hour strike notice served Friday expired.
A statement from the B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union, says workers were in a strike position as of 4 p.m. but are holding off on job action while negotiations continue.
Union president Stephanie Smith says talks are proceeding with the help of a mediator.
Published on February 01, 2021 BURNABY, COAST SALISH TERRITORIES - Members of the B.C. Government & Service Employees Union (BCGEU) working for Protrans BC, operator of the Canada Line, are in a legal strike position as of 4 p.m. today. However, talks are scheduled into the evening and the union is holding off on job action while negotiations continue. The current contract expired in December 2019 and contract talks started in February 2020. In November 2020 union members voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action - that mandate would have expired on February 3rd. The BCGEU represents about 180 workers at the Canada Line which is privately operated by Protrans BC Operations Ltd. and owned by the multinational SNC-Lavalin.