The union representing about 900 SkyTrain workers announced it would move to strike Tuesday morning after negotiations broke down Saturday, Dec. 7.
A system-wide shutdown affecting the Millennium and Expo lines is slated to begin Tuesday at 5 a.m. with normal service set to resume by Friday at 5 a.m. unless a deal is reached before then, according to a press release from the union.
The Canada Line, SeaBus, West Coast Express and HandyDART will not be affected.
“BCRTC is working with TransLink and Coast Mountain Bus Company to secure additional bus service on existing routes, but customers should consider alternate arrangements should a full strike proceed,” said Michel Ladrak, president of British Columbia Rapid Transit Company.
CUPE 7000 issued a 72-hour strike notice to the company on Friday after four days of mediated talks during which the union says no significant progress was made on key issues, which include wages, forced overtime and staffing levels.
"We understand that this is a massive action that will cause a great deal of inconvenience to our passengers, which is why we hope we can still reach an agreement before Tuesday morning," said union president Tony Rebelo.
The strike will affect a variety of SkyTrain workers, including control operators, attendants, as well as technical, administrative and maintenance staff.
This is the first SkyTrain shutdown due to job action in over twenty years.
