The union that represents West Vancouver’s Blue Bus staff is warning transit service cuts will hurt essential workers trying to get us through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 134, which represents 150 bus drivers and mechanics, issued a release Friday calling on the province and federal government to immediately provide emergency funding to maintain transit service on the North Shore.
TransLink, which funds and contracts the Blue Bus, is currently losing an estimated $75 million per month thanks to an 83 per cent drop in ridership and no way to collect fares on buses. Last week, they announced sweeping layoffs and cancellations of services and projects.
The ATU had been lobbying West Vancouver to put off cuts to local service to give riders more time to adjust, but according to the release, West Vancouver has not agreed.
“Many essential workers who rely on bus service to get around steep hills on the North Shore don’t have cars and can’t afford taxis to and from work every day. What are they supposed to do when buses disappear?” said ATU president Naresh Sachithanandan. “Our valued riders are getting less than 10 days’ notice that some routes will be completely eliminated and others run only with seriously reduced weekend frequency. That is unfair in this time of crisis.”
Starting on May 2, the 251, 252 and 262 routes will be suspended and shuttle buses will move onto “Saturday” schedules. As of May 18, all Blue Bus routes will operate on the Saturday schedule.
As a result, 15 employees will be laid off.
In a statement, West Vancouver Mayor Mary-Ann Booth said she and Coun. Craig Cameron, who represents West Vancouver on the TransLink Mayors Council, are also strongly advocating for senior levels of government to provide funding.
“Our Blue Bus operators are committed to serving our community, and it is understandable that they are deeply concerned about our essential service workers and vulnerable citizens, as we all are,” she said. “I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to our Blue Bus team for their dedication to the community, and we look forward to resuming service, and bringing these employees back to work, as soon as possible.”
Some senior members volunteered to be laid off to protect junior employees, according to the district, Booth noted.
“This speaks volumes about this team, and I am grateful for their selflessness,” she said.
TransLink Mayors Council chair Jonathan Cote is scheduled address the House of Commons finance committee about the matter Friday
Under normal circumstances, Blue Bus system of 68 vehicles transports about 18,000 passenger trips per day.
