Canada: Public transport workers launch 48-hour strike in Vancouver Jan. 22

Unionized public transport workers have launched a 48-hour strike from 03:00 Jan. 22 in Vancouver after TransLink’s Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) and Canadian Union of Public Employees 4500 (CUPE 4500) failed to reach a tentative deal. The strike is forcing the cancellation of all CMBC bus and SeaBus services.

SkyTrain, West Coast Express, and HandyDART services are currently unaffected. However, it remains possible that its workers affiliated with the Canadian Union of Public Employees 7000 (CUPE 7000) may join the strike action later on Jan. 22, which could lead to disruptions to SkyTrain services.

Public transport disruptions are likely in Vancouver for the duration of the strike. Higher-than-usual traffic and overcrowding in other public transport services are likely. The action could be extended in case CMBC and CUPE 4500 fail to reach a deal in the coming days.