B.C. appoints Fraser Valley bus strike mediator

In hopes to break an impasse in the Fraser Valley transit labour dispute, B.C. has appointed a special mediator to try to hash out a new deal between the union and transit operator.

In a statement Thursday, the province’s Minister of Labour Harry Bains says the dispute has been “incredibly challenging” for folks who rely on transit in the valley.

“The prolonged absence of transportation has had real impacts on residents in the region,” he said

“After recent talks with both parties, I have appointed Vince Ready as a special mediator in the ongoing labour dispute involving First Transit and CUPE Local 561 in the Fraser Valley.”

Bains describes Ready as a highly regarded mediator in the labour, business, and public-sector communities.

“I am confident he will do everything he can to help the parties end this labour dispute,” Bains said.

Bus strike has had major financial, social impacts on community

The appointment comes after drivers and maintenance workers walked off the job March 20. Since then, many people in the community have been affected by the strike, voicing their concerns to CityNews.

In April, an Abbotsford resident told CityNews she has been forced to spend $500 a week on taxis for her daughter to get to university.

“I try to work overtime, 12 hours, every day to get enough money to pay for the taxi,” said Suzan Deng.

Meanwhile, other students at the University of the Fraser Valley explained they’ve spent hundreds of dollars getting to and from class as the bus strike continues.

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In May, Yash Kumar said he was breaking the bank getting to and from his classes since March at the University of the Fraser Valley, where he’s an international student.

“It’s kind of really difficult for me to travel around the place. Sometimes I skip my classes to save money … $30 each day, for a week… I don’t earn that much,” he said.

“It takes me around $30 a day to come through,” said Tirth Solanki, another student at the university. “My expenses are more than my earnings.”

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a mother in Abbotsford explained how the impasse is affecting her 33-year-old daughter Amy who has physical and intellectual disabilities.

“This is definitely taking a hit on her ability to be independent. It’s taking a hit on [her] anxiety because she wants to know exactly what’s happening. And when it’s not the same every day, that causes her anxiety to be worse,” she explained.

Normally, she says Amy takes HandyDART to and from a day program. However, given the strike, those trips are not deemed “essential” and are putting a major strain on families in similar situations.

Sylvia says that although the service isn’t available, she and a respite family are picking up the slack to ensure Amy can get to her program.

“The hit is directly on our people with disabilities. It is on anybody who relies on using HandyDART or the bus system, it is on their independence, and it, in the end, affects their health, their well-being,” she said.

The labour minister on Thursday stressed that Ready will assist in settling the terms of a new collective agreement, and report back to the province.

“Vince Ready will work with the parties for up to 10 days to secure a resolution to the ongoing strike. If a settlement cannot be reached within this timeline, he will issue recommendations to end the dispute, with both parties having five days to accept or reject the recommendations.

“It is important that both sides work toward a fair resolution at the bargaining table, which is the best place for a collective agreement to be reached,” Bains said.

While a full strike began in March, service disruptions began months earlier as talks faltered between the parties. Union workers have been calling for a new contract, citing concerns about low wages, poor working conditions, and a lack of pension.

CUPE 561 says contract talks with First Transit have been ongoing since last spring.

-With files from Martin MacMahon, Hana Mae Nassar, Greg Bowman, Emily Marsten, and Dean Recksiedler