Municipal politicians are choosing not to wade into the ongoing labour dispute between B.C. Transit and its bus drivers' union.
Members of the Victoria Regional Transit Commission refused to discuss the issue at their regular board meeting Tuesday, saying they would give their opinion only after a new contract is signed.
Canadian Auto Workers Local 333 has objected to B.C. Transit's purchase of Vicinity buses, saying the corporation wants to use lower-paid and part-time bus drivers to operate them. Commission members have no legal ability to stop B.C. Transit from purchasing the buses for the region.
"Legally, we couldn't stop it, but it would be hard for management to overrule the commission," said commission member and Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard.
Neither B.C. Transit nor its union has been willing to budge during the negotiations, leading to an overtime ban imposed Oct. 22 by Local 333 and a failed attempt at mediation.
Last week, B.C. Transit contracted out maintenance work for nine buses in its fleet because the overtime ban had created a backlog in servicing. The buses required about 186 service hours at a cost of about $90 to $115 per hour, said B.C.
Transit spokeswoman Meribeth Burton, who says the collective agreement allows hiring of outside maintenance crews if Transit lacks the staff to get the work done. The union filed a complaint with the B.C.
Labour Relations Board, saying employers are prohibited from using replacement workers during a labour dispute.
Both sides will be in front of the Labour Relations Board in Vancouver today.
