Could this mean the end of the Fraser Valley transit strike?

This story was published on June 9. You can find our latest story here.

A solution to the Fraser Valley transit strike may finally be on the horizon.

A special mediator has been appointed by the province to help transit workers and their employer reach an agreement, Labour Minister Harry Bains announced Thursday. Both parties would have had to agree to the involvement of the mediator, provincial officials say. They had not previously done so.

The appointment of mediator Vince Ready suggests the strike could end this month. The last time Ready was called in to mediate, a deal was signed three weeks later.

Today, Joti writes about the latest on the transit strike and looks back at how it reached this point

April 2008: First Transit hired to run local buses

BC Transit signs a deal with First Transit to operate buses in the Fraser Valley.

March 2020: Employee contract expires

The contract between First Transit and its workers expired in March 2020. Bargaining was delayed by the pandemic and began in spring 2022. By the end of 2022, the two parties could not agree on wages, pension, and working conditions, the union said. 

June 2020: BC Transit signs a new deal with First Transit

After an open bid process BC Transit renewed its contract with First Transit for nine years, despite the company having no contract with its workers.

December 2022: Fraser Valley union bus drivers vote to strike

In December 98% of transit workers voted to strike after failing to negotiate a new contract with its employer First Transit. The two parties were “far apart on wages, benefits, and working conditions,” the union president said in a statement. Fraser Valley transit workers earn 32% less than other Lower Mainland transit workers, the union said.

At the time, there were no plans for job action. Both sides were expected to return to the bargaining table on Jan. 17.

Jan. 30, 2023: Transit workers issue strike notice

After more than 20 days of bargaining, Fraser Valley transit workers issued a 72-hour strike notice. Drivers stopped collecting fares on Feb. 2. But buses kept running.

Feb. 24, 2023: Strike escalated

Transit workers withdrew all services (except for HandyDart), bringing buses to a halt for two days.

March 1, 2023: Both sides agree to meet

Following the two-day shut down of transit services, both sides agreed to return to the bargaining table March 2. Drivers continued to not collect fares. The union said a full strike would be launched if a deal was not reached by March 20.

March 7, 2023: New ownership

First Transit, the private company contracted by BC Transit to operate buses, is acquired by French transit corporation Transdev.

March 9, 2023: Strike escalated again

Transit workers escalated their strike effort for three days, halting bus service between March 9 and 11

March 17, 2023: Strike notice given

After both sides failed to reach an agreement, the union announced that a full walkout would take place March 20.

March 20, 2023: Full strike begins

Transit workers indefinitely walk off the job. The only vehicles still moving are HandyDart services used for critical medical purposes and considered to be essential services.

March 29, 2023: Lessons learned

The Current revisits BC's longest bus strike. A transit strike in the Sea-to-Sky region lasted more than 130 days before a mediator brought the two sides together. Sea-to-Sky MLA Jordan Sturdy suggests a lack of local government involvement in transit decisions is one factor in the reoccurring strikes.

April 6, 2023: Lack of transit and vulnerable people

The Current spoke to the mother of a 33-year-old Abbotsford woman who lives with a disability about how the transit strike is affecting vulnerable people. 

April 12, 2023: Transit workers rally

Transit supporters rally in downtown Chilliwack calling on BC Transit “to take responsibility for the failure of their contractor” First Transit.

April 19, 2023: Municipalities call for an end to the strike

Chilliwack council voted to join Abbotsford, Mission, and the Fraser Valley Regional District to call on the province to appoint a mediator to help resolve the transit strike.

 April 24, 2023: Newcomers call for strike end

Participants in an Abbotsford language skills program said the strike was affecting their ability to take classes and sustain themselves financially. They called on the province to appoint a mediator to get buses running again.

May 5, 2023: BC won’t appoint a mediator

BC Labour Minister Harry Bains says he won’t appoint a mediator to bring both sides back to the bargaining table unless both the union and the company ask for such help.

May 9, 2023: ‘Failure to bargain in good faith’

CUPE alleged that during initial negotiations, First Transit suggested job action would be required to pressure BC Transit to cover employee wage demands. The union said First Transit later shifted its position resulting in a “failure to bargain in good faith” and a breach of the BC Labour Code.

May 11, 2023: Opposition bill suggests restarting HandyDart service

BC United’s shadow transportation minister introduced a private member’s bill that would consider all HandyDart services essential during the transit strike. (Only some HandyDart trips are considered essential.)

May 16, 2023: Union declares strike to be BC Transit’s fault

The union representing Fraser Valley transit workers renewed calls for BC Transit to take responsibility for its contractor First Transit. The union said the company should step in and engage in discussions with the union.

June 1, 2023: Rally in Mission

More than 60 people gathered in Mission to support striking Fraser Valley transit workers.

June 8, 2023: BC appoints a mediator

After speaking with the transit union and its employer, BC Labour Minister Harry Bains appoints mediator Vince Ready to help resolve the ongoing labour dispute.

“Vince Ready is a highly regarded mediator among the labour, business and public-sector communities, and I am confident he will do everything he can to help the parties end this labour dispute.

Ready is expected to work with both sides for up to 10 days. If a settlement is not reached, Ready can also develop his own recommended settlement that each side can then choose to accept. That’s what happened last year, when Ready created a package of suggested terms and conditions that was then accepted by both sides of the Sea-to-Sky transit dispute.

In a statement to The Current, First Transit said it welcomes the assistance of a mediator.

“We remain committed to finding a sustainable negotiated contract settlement for CUPE Local 561 workers, and are hopeful the assistance of the special mediator, appointed by the provincial government, will help both sides work constructively toward a viable solution.”

The Current has also contacted the local transit union for comment.

Mediation talks began Thursday, according to Global News.