Vancouver's 48-hour transit strike ends: buses and SeaBus resume Wednesday morning, union warns of escalation to SkyTrain

Why it matters

A 48-hour transit strike that paralyzed commuting for millions in Metro Vancouver ended this morning. About 180 Coast Mountain Bus Company transit supervisors (CUPE Local 4500) walked out at 3 a.m. on Monday, Oct 19, shutting down all buses and the SeaBus (drivers' unions would not cross the picket lines); with the 48-hour strike now expired, buses and SeaBus have resumed service.

The key dispute is pay — the union is seeking a 25% wage increase while the company has offered 13.5% to 14%. Weekend mediation by veteran mediator Vince Ready failed. TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn held a press conference Monday afternoon, saying the company faces a C$4.6-billion, 10-year fiscal shortfall.

Although the strike is over, the union warns action could escalate: it has applied to the B.C. Labour Relations Board for picket lines outside SkyTrain stations, and the SkyTrain union (CUPE Local 7000) has said it will respect picket lines. The provincial labour minister did not rule out government intervention on Monday, hinting at a possible special mediator. SkyTrain, West Coast Express, HandyDART and the West Vancouver Blue Bus operated normally throughout the strike.