Fraser Valley transit strike: Most buses not running Monday, Tuesday
Posted February 27, 2023 11:39 am.
Last Updated February 27, 2023 11:52 am.
Locals trying to catch a bus Monday and Tuesday in B.C.’s Fraser Valley may be out of luck, as most buses in the area won’t be running.
In a news release from The Canadian Union of Public Employees Britsh Columbia (CUPE 561), which represents transit workers in Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Mission, Agassiz, and Hope, the group says transit operators will stop collecting fares over the two days.
Read More: Fraser Valley transit strike: Most busses won’t run Monday, Tuesday
It notes that all services, except for HandyDART, won’t be running.
The group is calling for a new contract citing concerns about low wages, poor working conditions, and a lack of pension.
“We were clear when this job action began that we wanted to cause as little inconvenience as possible to the riding public. We wanted to give residents ample notice of what might lie ahead if First Transit did not come to the table with a different approach,” CUPE 561 President Jane Gibbons said in a news release Friday.
RALLY MONDAY: Join us Monday, Feb 27 for a rally to support #CUPE561 transit operators who are on strike in the Fraser Valley. Noon at #Abbotsford City Hall. #FraserValley #canlab #bcunion pic.twitter.com/SZTMLNm2VR
— CUPE BC (@CUPEBC) February 26, 2023
“But the company did not hear that message and simply refuses to recognize its responsibility to bring compensation for these workers in line with that of other transit workers in the region.”
A rally at noon on Monday also raises awareness for the union’s concerns, outside of the Abbotsford City Hall.
-With files from Dean Recksiedler
