SkyTrain workers' union issues 72-hour strike notice

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      The union representing Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain workers has announced a 72-hour strike notice.

      The notification to the B.C. Rapid Transit Company comes after "four full days of mediation and more than 40 days of direct bargaining in which no significant progress was made on the key issues", according to a news release from the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 7000 (CUPE 7000) today (December 6).

      According to CUPE 7000, it represents about 900 maintenance and administrative SkyTrain workers, as well as control operators and attendants. The workers voted 96.8 percent in favour of strike action on November 21; they have been without an agreement since the expiry of the last contract on August 31, 2019.

      Strike action would not affect service on the West Coast Express or the Canada Line.

      CUPE 7000  president Tony Rebelo said in the release that the union and employer are still in negotiations. 

      "We are still committed to reaching an agreement at the table, and our committee will make itself available day and night, over the weekend, to reach a fair deal without any interruption of service. We will need to work very hard to reach a deal that addresses our concerns about wages, forced overtime, staffing levels, and trades adjustment language, among other issues."

      The statement noted that an update on any strike action would be issued Saturday morning (December 7).

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