Tentative agreement reached to end Sea to Sky transit strike
The months-long transit strike in B.C.'s Sea to Sky region may be coming to an end, after representatives from the union and the employer signed a tentative agreement Friday.
Neither side has released any details of the agreement, which will be put before members of Unifor Local 114 for a vote on Monday.
In a news release, the union said its bargaining committee "unanimously recommended" that members ratify the agreement.
Residents of the communities of Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton have been without transit service since Jan. 29, when Local 114's 80 members went on strike.
Multiple rounds of talks began and then broke down over the course of the four-month strike.
In the union's statement Friday, Unifor's western regional director Gavin McGarrigle praised members' efforts during the strike.
“Transit workers in the Sea to Sky went on strike to address the deeply unfair disparity between their wages and benefits and what is paid in other regions,” McGarrigle said.
“Local 114 members maintained a solid picket line and grew community support for their fight. I think they’ve accomplished a lot in these negotiations and demonstrated the importance of regional transit to these communities.”
In its own statement, employer Whistler Transit Ltd./Diversified Transportation – also known as PW Transit – said it was "pleased" to have reached the tentative agreement.
The employer added that details on the resumption of transit services in the region would be released "shortly."
The union said transit would resume "when it is safe to do so."
BC Transit, which contracts PW Transit to operate the Sea to Sky system, also promised more information on a resumption of operations soon.
"BC Transit understands the serious impact this job action had on residents and local businesses in the community, and heard customers’ frustrations," the provincial transit agency said in a statement Saturday.
"We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience of the past few months and are pleased the parties were able to reach this agreement."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.