BCAA members could face even longer waits this fall: union

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – We’ve all been there: Your car won’t start or maybe a flat tire has you stuck on the side of the highway.

Having a BCAA membership is a security blanket for many of us. But with a continuing lockout, that roadside emergency assistance isn’t such a sure thing.

Emergency dispatchers have been locked out since early June, leaving managers handling calls. That often leads to horror stories on the road, says David Black with COPE 378, the union representing dispatchers.

“We’ve had people stuck on the Sunshine Coast. We’ve had people waiting hours for a call. We’ve had wrong equipment dispatched to calls. Just about everything that could go wrong seems to have gone wrong,” says Black.

BCAA would not grant an interview but in a statement said they are doing their best.

“Roadside Assistance is an essential BCAA service and, regardless of the time of year, we continue to serve our Members around the clock. Call volumes can fluctuate day-to-day but our Road Assist Managers operating the contact centre and Road Assist drivers are ensuring that Members receive the first-rate service they expect from BCAA. We’ve also introduced some service enhancements that our Members have been using to place a roadside assistance request and have service dispatched even faster,” reads the statement.

Black says less daylight and more difficult driving conditions mean more customers and longer waits this fall.

He also a paying member and questions if customers are getting full value.

“I’ve paid my dues. Thank goodness I haven’t needed emergency road service. But it’s my expectation as a member of BCAA that they’ll treat their employees fairly, get back to the bargaining table, and have those services ready should I need them.”

The two sides haven’t been at the bargaining table since last month, with no talks planned.