Transit workers on Vancouver Island have rejected Transdev’s latest contract offer, extending a strike that has now reached its 11th week with no resolution in sight.
The 44 transit operators, cleaners and mechanics from Unifor Local 114 are demanding wages comparable to their counterparts in Victoria and Vancouver as they grapple with rising living costs in the region.
“Our union will continue to stand strong alongside our transit members to achieve fairness in a region with a rapidly growing cost of living,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Our members deserve fair wages that reflect today’s affordability challenges.”
The strike, which began Feb. 8, has disrupted transit services in the Cowichan Valley. HandyDART workers with Unifor Local 333BC are also on strike, further impacting accessible transportation options.
Privatization concerns
The dispute highlights ongoing issues with B.C.’s transit service model. While BC Transit operates as a Crown agency, it outsources most bus services through private contractors like Transdev, with Victoria being the exception.
“This privatized model drives down wages and creates service instability,” said Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle. “Unifor has raised these concerns with the provincial government for years – now it must resolve the unfair wage issue for good.”
The union notes that this outsourcing approach has contributed to four major transit strikes across the province in the past three years, affecting tens of thousands of transit users.
Government action sought
Unifor is calling on the B.C. government to address the wage disparities across transit systems throughout the province to prevent similar labour disputes in the future.
The NDP government had promised a review of private transit contracts in its 2024 election platform, but according to the union, no meaningful action has been taken since the government took office.
Beyond wage parity, striking workers are also seeking improvements to pensions and working conditions.
Unifor represents 21,000 members in road transportation, including 7,600 transit operators and skilled trades workers in urban transit systems. The union has 320,000 members across various sectors, making it Canada’s largest private-sector union.
