VANCOUVER — A union representing Canada Line transit workers in Metro Vancouver says talks continued Monday evening after a 72-hour strike notice served Friday expired.
A statement from the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union, says workers were in a strike position as of 4 p.m. but are holding off on job action while negotiations continue.
Union president Stephanie Smith says talks are proceeding with the help of a mediator.
She says employees of the Canada Line, which runs between Richmond and Vancouver and to and from the airport, are paid three per cent less than those doing the same jobs on the SkyTrain.
Smith says about 180 workers including attendants, control room operators and administrators voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action in November over their demands for fair wages.
The union is also negotiating to double their sick time to eight days a year, and Smith says that's especially important during the pandemic so employees don't go to work while they're ill and potentially expose the public to COVID-19.
The Canada Line is operated by Protrans B.C., a subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin, while SkyTrain workers are employees of TransLink.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 1, 2021.
The Canadian Press
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said the union and employer were negotiating with the help of a negotiator.
