Image Credit: B.C. Transit via Facebook
November 07, 2016 - 4:30 PM
CENTRAL OKANAGAN – Bus passengers in the Central Okanagan will have to wait to find out if they will be affected by a transit strike this week, but buses will continue to run as normal until at least Wednesday morning.
Members of Amalgamated Transit Union 1722 — which represents drivers from Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland and Merritt — announced last week that they had rejected the final offer from their employer First Canada. The union members have been without a contract for more than six months and 72-hour strike notice was issued on Thursday, Nov. 3.
Union local president Scott Lovell says members will vote whether or not to strike on Tuesday, Nov. 8, and he will update the public by Wednesday.
“For us (striking) is the last option because that would hurt our passengers the most,” he says. “We will make every effort to inform the public of any service disruptions as soon as possible.”
At issue is a cost of living raise, equal pay regardless of bus size and wages.
Earlier this year close to 92 per cent of the union members voted in favour of a strike should it become necessary.
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