The members of Unifor Local 114 have provided 72-hour strike notice, which may result in the withdrawal of bus services as of 4:30 am Friday, December 15, in the Comox Valley and Campbell River transit regions. HandyDART will be available on essential service levels only during the labour action.
This action is the result of failed contract negotiations between members of Unifor 114 and the transit contractor, PWTransit.
We understand that many of our members rely on transit to get to campus, and the disruption of bus services can be especially stressful during the exam period we are currently in. Many of our members are also workers, relying on transit to get to their own opportunities for earnings and this labour dispute will add complications to their lives. We welcome story sharing to theoffice@nisu.ca.
Students have long stood in solidarity with workers, with the student and labour movements running parallel throughout history. North Island Students’ Union continues this solidarity by supporting our union siblings at Unifor 114 in their labour action.
This situation is truly the result of chronic underfunding of public transportation in BC, for decades. Being able to move around a region freely for education, earnings, health, and social reasons is a basic right, and as such we need a stronger focus on public transit in provincial and municipal budgets. As environmental considerations grow, prioritizing public transit should be viewed as an important step towards less dependance on independent vehicle ownership.
We call on the BC Government and our Regional Districts to focus funding on regional transit services, so that those who work in this important service can earn the wages they deserve.
In solidarity,
North Island Students’ Union
To learn about the transit impact in the Comox Valley www.bctransit.com/comox-valley/schedules-and-maps/alerts
In Campbell River www.bctransit.com/campbell-river/schedules-and-maps/alerts
From Unifor www.unifor.org/news/all-news
From PWTransit www.pwtransit.ca/newsroom/
