Metro Van bus strike would have devastating effect on small biz: GVBoT
Posted January 19, 2024 12:51 pm.
While snow and ice hindered many transit users’ ability to get around Metro Vancouver this week, it could be a bus strike that brings travel to a halt on Monday.
On Thursday, the union which represents area transit supervisors said it will be “withdrawing all services” beginning Jan. 22 for two days if an agreement with Coast Mountain Bus company is not made.
That would “effectively [shut] down all bus services,” CUPE 4500 said in a statement. The strike would also affect SeaBus service.
The potential escalation is of great concern to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, which says smaller businesses just can’t take any further disruptions.
GVBoT President and CEO Bridgitte Anderson says if the union follows through, it would be devastating, particularly after weather disruptions, during a January slump, and amid the high cost of operating.
“We’re hearing from our members that they’re significantly concerned and we are certainly expressing that on their behalf, both to the government and to TransLink, to see if they can come together to find a resolution that would be fair to all the parties,” Anderson told CityNews.
Anderson says it’s not just customers getting to businesses but employees getting to work that’s affected overall when there are transit disruptions.
“About 300,000 people a day ride the bus and the SeaBus in the region. Those are people who are trying to get to and from work. So the impact on especially those small and medium businesses could be quite significant,” she explained.
According to the GVBoT, the latest snow storm forced many businesses to either operate at reduced levels or shut down altogether.
Conversations with the thousands of members are ongoing, Anderson says, with many expressing the need for a strike to be avoided at all costs.
“We absolutely believe in the parties’ ability and the need for fair bargaining. But we are saying that this could be a significant impact to the economy and especially small and medium businesses. So we’re urging the provincial government to get involved, intervene if they need to if we can’t find a resolution,” she added.
She admits it’s difficult to say exactly what kind of monetary losses a strike would result in for business members. However, Anderson says, “small and medium businesses are the fabric of our community.”
“And they’ve already suffered a pretty big blow over the last couple of days due to the significant snow event,” she continued.
According to CUPE 4500, unless an agreement is reached with the employer, all bus and SeaBus services will be suspended starting at 3 a.m. Jan. 22, for a two-day withdrawal.
The threat comes after the union began an overtime ban on Jan. 6.
Meanwhile, the Coast Mountain Bus Company has said it’s “disappointing” the union is threatening an escalation of job action.
On Thursday, it said any service impacts due to job action will be communicated to customers as soon as possible.
-With files from Charlie Carey and Cole Schisler
