Blue Bus drivers reach contract deal in West Vancouver

Bus drivers and mechanics who are members of West Vancouver’s Blue Bus union have voted to accept a two-year contract deal with the District of West Vancouver.

The tentative deal was reached between the union and the municipality Tuesday and comes just one week after bus drivers voted 96 per cent in favour of a strike if no progress in talks was made.

On Wednesday, union members voted 88 per cent in favour of accepting the deal.

Key issues included working conditions and benefits, said Amalgamated Transit Union president Cornel Neagu.

The deal reached this week includes a provision for five-minute bathroom breaks for drivers to be built into the end of every bus trip, starting in December 2024. It also includes changes to cut down on weekend “split shifts,” including a maximum of 30 minutes unpaid break time during shifts on weekends and holidays, said Neagu.

One outstanding issue the union didn’t resolve was the structure of members’ long-term disability benefits, which require workers to pay 100 per cent of their premiums. Neagu said the union and the municipality have agreed to discuss that further in the future.

The contract also includes a wage increase of three per cent this year and 2.5 per cent next year – the same increase given to TransLink’s Coast Mountain Bus drivers.

Wages for regular bus drivers range from $22/hour to $36.73/hour, depending on length of service. Wages for shuttle bus drivers range from about $27/hour to $33.73/hour.

West Vancouver council is expected to vote on the deal on Monday.

The contract is set to expire at the same time as the Coast Mountain Bus contract.

The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 134 represents 150 bus drivers and mechanics who operate and maintain West Vancouver’s Blue Bus system of 64 buses that transport about 18,000 passenger trips per day.