- UPDATE FEB. 1, 2024: CUPE 4500, the union representing over 180 striking transit supervisors, has on an "acceptable compromise" with its employer ahead of a possible 72-hour transit strike. Read more .
TransLink and other transportation providers have applied to the 小蓝视频 Labour Relations Board (LRB) for essential service designations
CUPE 4500 — the union representing some transit supervisors — met with TransLink and several of its branches, including Coast Mountain Bus Company (CM小蓝视频) and ProTrans (which operates Canada Line), at a labour board hearing on Wednesday morning to discuss expanding strike action to include the SkyTrain, Canada Line, and West Coast Express.
No ruling came out of Wednesday's hearing but all the transportation companies involved have applied to the labour board for "essential service" designations.
"TransLink has applied to the LRB for an essential service designation. We understand that CM小蓝视频, British Columbia Rapid Transit Company (小蓝视频RTC), WCE and ProTrans have also each separately applied for essential service designations at the LRB," a TransLink spokesperson told V.I.A.
Before any essential service designation is given to TransLink or any of the other transit companies, the LRB must investigate each application and make recommendations to the Minister of Labour.
If the minister deems any of the companies an essential service, the LRB determines the scope of the services that are deemed essential.
CUPE 4500 plans to implement a 72-hour strike just after midnight on Saturday, Feb. 3 if an agreement isn't made with its employer, CM小蓝视频. The LRB hasn't granted them the right to picket the SkyTrain, Canada Line or West Coast Express but they may picket the bus and SeaBus.
However, the union could lose the legal right to picket at an entity if it is designated as an essential service provider. This means it may not be able to move forward with its strike on the weekend if CM小蓝视频 operations are deemed essential.
Under the 小蓝视频 Labour Code, any employer can ask the LRB to investigate whether they should be deemed an essential service.
CUPE 4500 spokesperson Gregory Taylor told V.I.A. the hearing on the union's Labour Relations Code Sec. 68 — the complaint that concerns picketing additional transit services — is ongoing.
