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
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.