Metro Vancouver bus workers reject second tentative deal, plan uniform ban

Metro Vancouver transit bus workers have rejected a second tentative agreement, their union says, and will begin job action with a uniform ban on Aug. 17.

Unifor said the initial action will not disrupt transit service. It said the ban was chosen to make the labour dispute visible to the public while remaining well short of a service interruption.

Coast Mountain Bus Company said it remains committed to collective bargaining and does not anticipate service disruptions. The latest agreement for Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 was reached in late July, after an earlier tentative deal from June 22 was rejected.

The company operates more than 96 per cent of Metro Vancouver bus service, as well as SeaBus and community shuttles. The two locals represent bus operators, SeaBus crews and related maintenance and transit workers. Unifor said its bargaining team remains ready to return to talks at any time.