The BC government has stepped in to help resolve the ongoing Metro Vancouver transit labour dispute.
Harry Bains, Minister of Labour, issued a statement Wednesday morning that he has appointed a special mediator to work on a solution between the two parties.
“Not having transit service is a huge challenge for the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on it. I have appointed Vince Ready as a special mediator in the ongoing collective bargaining dispute between Metro Vancouver transit supervisors represented by CUPE 4500, and the Coast Mountain Bus Company,” reads the statement.
“Ready is a highly regarded mediator in the labour relations community, with a long and distinguished record of settling disputes. With his appointment, the parties have all the tools they need to reach an agreement, and I thank them for agreeing to work with him to end this dispute.
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Beginning tomorrow, January 25th, Ready will work with both sides for six days. If no settlement is issued within this period, he will issue non-binding recommendations. Both parties having five days to either accept or reject the recommendations.
CUPE 4500 welcomed the news that a special mediator has been brought in to resolve the dispute.
“We are prepared to continue our work with Mr. Ready. If anyone can help us reach a deal, it’s him,” says Liam O’Neill, spokesperson for CUPE 4500.
“But for this process to be successful, Coast Mountain and TransLink are going to need to show some willingness to find common ground. Their past conduct in mediation leaves us skeptical.”
TransLink announced Wednesday afternoon that all SeaBus and bus services would resume Wednesday morning after they shut down Monday and Tuesday.
After talks broke down between Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC), an operating subsidiary of TransLink, and CUPE 4500, a 48-hour strike shut down bus and SeaBus services across Metro Vancouver Monday morning.