Metro Vancouver transit strike: what’s running on November 27, 28 and 29
Metro Vancouver transit strike: what’s running on November 27, 28 and 29
We’re beyond pleased to share that Coast Mountain Bus Company, and Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 have reached a tentative agreement! We’re working towards providing regular schedules for all transit modes.
On Wednesday, November 27; Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29, escalating job action will result in the suspension of SeaBus and most bus service in Metro Vancouver.
SkyTrain, West Coast Express and HandyDART will operate their regular schedules on these days. Also running on these days are a very limited number of bus routes operated by West Vancouver Blue Bus and other contractors.
Each day, half-a-million people take transit within our region, and we recognize that this job action will create challenging and uncertain commutes for many.
The following summary breaks down what transit service IS running on November 27, 28 and 29.
SkyTrain
- Regular schedule on the Expo, Millennium and Canada Lines, plus more frequent off-peak SkyTrain service
- Additional SkyTrain Attendants and Transit Police will be available at stations to assist customers
West Coast Express
- Regular schedule
HandyDART
- Regular schedule – Please note that due to job action, call wait times may be longer than normal.
Bus:
The following bus routes are not operated by Coast Mountain Bus Company and therefore 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 Caulfeild / Vancouver / Park Royal
- 254 British Properties / Park Royal / Van
- 255 Dundarave / Capilano University
- 256 Whitby Estate / Park Royal / Spuraway
- 258 UBC / West Vancouver
- 262 Lions Bay / Caulfeild
- 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
Although these services are operating their regular schedules, please plan for extra travel time as they will be busier than usual.
Other travel options
Increasing pick-up and drop-off locations
- Designated spots, created using unused bus stops, to facilitate pick-up/drop-off for customers near SkyTrain stations
Carpooling
- gobyRIDE and Liftango will be increasing service
- Designated carpool spots will be available at Park and Ride facilities, which are located at SkyTrain and West Coast Express stations
Carsharing
Cycling
- Expanded bike parking at stations courtesy of BEST who will be providing complimentary bike valets at key stations from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Bicycles will be allowed on the SkyTrain, all day, in the last car of each train
- More Mobi by Shaw Go bikes and staff will be available at docking stations near SkyTrain stations to assist customers
Monthly Pass holders, who do not use any public transit during the three-day strike, will automatically receive a prorated Stored Value credit on their Compass Card accounts.
For the most up-to-date information on the state of the system sign up for alerts and follow us on Twitter at @TransLink. For the latest media statements, check out translink.ca/jobaction. For alternative travel options during job action, please see our Stay Informed page.
Why is the transit strike happening?
CMBC has been in bargaining with the union (Unifor 111 and 2200) representing bus and SeaBus operators since August. The talks have broken off despite CMBC requesting mediation four times and the union refusing.CMBC is offering generous wage increases above amounts found in other public sector settlements in British Columbia:
- The top annual wage for operators will increase by about $6,100 over the next four years, bringing their annual salary to $69,900
- The top annual wage for skilled trades will increase by about $10,000 over the next four years, bringing their annual salary to $88,000
- CMBC is offering guaranteed overtime. Under the latest collective bargaining offer given by CMBC, transit operators would be guaranteed at least 40 minutes of recovery time for every scheduled shift. Under regular road conditions, transit operators would be paid double time for any minute of recovery time they don’t receive under 40 minutes. CMBC is also adding more scheduled recovery time to ensure operators are getting a rest.
Read more on the CMBC offer in – 8 things you need to know about the Metro Vancouver Transit Strike.
Author: Sarah Kertcher
I support your action and recognize the importance and integrity of the system and benefits that we all need to recognize. Wages are not everything and anyone dealing with the public in a customer service capacity needs to have the support of management and union regarding front line issues!
How do I get from the airport to the ferry at Tswassen?
The 620 bus from Bridgeport Station.
Bus drivers are already getting high wages..
Even they are heavily paid, they don’t care for passengers. Specifically during late night, if a passenger reaches by running and at the door and requests to board the bus driver don’t care and leave him behind ,
Better give opportunity to others wIsh to join the company.
So true, fire them all and hire new drivers!!
I agree!
How is this bus strike going to effect NewWestminster buses and skytrain service?
No buses, but regular Skytrain service.
I would like to know about seabus schedule for these days, cause an working at the airport &I must take seabus to downtown waterfront station.
Many thanks in advance
A few notes:
“…Will result in the suspension…” seems a little presumptuous.
–
“Regular schedule on the Expo, Millennium and Canada Lines, plus more frequent off-peak SkyTrain service.” This is a perfect example of why calling the Canada Line a “SkyTrain” service can be so confusing. When you said at the end “plus more…SkyTrain,” one could be forgiven if they didn’t know whether this is a qualifier that means only the Expo and Millennium Lines, or simply means all three lines. A good rule of thumb that I’ve found: If a rapid transit line doesn’t display – on either its rolling stock or even infrastructure – the official name that it’s being called, then it probably isn’t what it’s being called.
P.S. A tip for UBC students who have run out of options but can get to a SkyTrain or Canada Line station: Try catching a ‘Blue Bus’ to West Vancouver, from downtown Vancouver, where you can catch a ‘258 UBC’; in the afternoon – going back to West Vancouver – it turns into a ‘250A Dundarave’ which allows drop-offs along Georgia Street.
The strike is going on due to Toronto getting paid more and Vancouver finds it not fair there getting paid less for the same job . The CMBC needs to realize that Toronto is a much bigger place the Vancouver and they have more roads to cover. Stop your complaining on oh we need more money in our pockets and think about the 100,000s of people that are being affected by this.
How does one get from Port Moody to maple ridge in the morning and the other way at night?
There was no mention if Evergreen services will operate or not
The increased wage never matches the service which should be provided. That makes people feel frustrated.
Bus drivers get paid way above a lot of people who work jobs that are equally as tough and “unfair”. What is unfair is that the people and students who rely heavily on transit need to suffer due to, for a lack of a better word, greed. Take what you can get; you are already very privileged and if you don’t like it then quit and find another job. Transit is necessary for many people this is just ridiculous
We need buses running every day so please can they just say something because we have disabilitie people that do need buses running