05-31-2022 Release: Sea to Sky Transit Strike

MAY 31, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RE: Sea to Sky Transit Strike

Late yesterday, Whistler Transit Ltd./Diversified Transportation (PWTransit) was notified by Unifor Local 114 that the tentative agreement, unanimously recommended for acceptance by the Union and their members’ bargaining committee, was rejected by the members. Given how last Friday’s session with mediator Dave Schaub concluded, the Company is stunned and extremely disappointed with this result.

In an effort to end the dispute and return transit service to these communities, the Company presented a best, last, and final offer to the bargaining committee, which included an increase in wages as compared to the May 11th offer, as well as 100% employer-paid benefits for all employees. As with previous offers, we agreed to transition the existing RRSP matching plan to the Union’s preferred Defined Benefit pension plan.

This offer represented a substantial increase in wages, including annual increases of 1.5%, 2%, 3%, 3%, and 4% over the term of the deal – resulting in a driver wage rate of $36.46/hr. It also included a 2% signing bonus. We believe this was a fair final offer and trusted that the committee’s recommendation to accept would yield a positive result in voting and allow a re-start of operations in the near future.

The Company will be evaluating its options in the next couple of days and will have further comments at that time.