Transit strike will happen if ‘agreement has not been met by the end of the day,’ says TransLink
Posted January 21, 2024 10:06 pm.
Last Updated January 21, 2024 10:20 pm.
There could be a full shutdown of bus and SeaBus service Monday morning at 3 a.m. “if an agreement has not been met by the end of the day,” TransLink posted on X Sunday evening.
CityNews has reached out to TransLink for clarification as to when “end of day” is.
As of 10 p.m., neither side has come out to announce anything about the mediated negotiations that have been taking place all weekend long.
Listen live to CityNews 1130 for live coverage with further up-to-date information as it becomes available.
The transit agency says it will provide an update on its Job Action page online and via X (@TransLink) if there are any updates. As of 10 p.m., TransLink has not provided any updates either way.
TransLink maintains that CUPE 4500 can only legally picket outside of bus and SeaBus stations — not SkyTrain stations.
This comes after the union representing rapid transit workers said it wouldn’t cross any picket lines set up outside of Skytrain stations — raising fears that Metro Vancouver’s entire transit system would be shut down.
TransLink is warning riders to be prepared for a significant service disruption, should the strike go ahead, but says SkyTrain and West Coast express will not be impacted.
What this means for commuters if strike is on
TransLink had said, if the union were to go ahead with a strike, there would be no bus or SeaBus service starting at 1 a.m. Monday, with services expected to be restored Wednesday, Jan. 24.
TransLink says SkyTrain on the Expo, Millennium, and Canada Lines, as well as the West Coast Express, would remain on a regular schedule. However, the union that represents workers on the SkyTrain’s Expo and Millenium lines, CUPE 7000, said their members have been notified that they would not have to report to work if they come across a picket line. But TransLink says that CUPE 4500 can only legally picket bus and SeaBus.
HandyDART, West Vancouver Blue Bus, Bowen Island Community Shuttles, and Langley Community Shuttles will stick to a regular schedule, TransLink says.
Bus service will not be available. However, the following routes are not operated by Coast Mountain Bus Company, and they will be running:
214 Blueridge / Phibbs Exch* (will not provide connections to Vancouver)
215 Indian River / Phibbs Exch
227 Lynn Valley Centre / Phibbs Exchange
250 Horseshoe Bay / Dundarave / Vancouver
251 Queens / Park Royal
252 Inglewood / Park Royal
253 Caulfield / Vancouver / Park Royal
254 British Properties / Park Royal / Van
255 Dundarave / Capilano University
256 Whitby Estate / Park Royal / Spuraway
262 Lions Bay / Caulfield
280 Bluewater / Snug Cove
281 Eagle Cliff / Snug Cove
282 Mt Gardner / Snug Cove
370 Cloverdale / Willowbrook
372 Clayton Heights / Langley Centre
560 Murrayville / Langley Centre
561 Langley Centre / Brookswood
562 Langley Centre / Walnut Grove
563 Langley Centre / Fernridge
564 Langley Ctr / Willowbrook
With files from Cole Schisler.
