SeaBus trips cut, bus cancellations loom in Metro Vancouver transit strike

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Commuters have been warned to expect some bus cancellations as job action by transit workers continues across Metro Vancouver, but SeaBus service connecting Vancouver and North Shore is already taking a hit.

Eight morning sailings have been cut so far at the Lonsdale Quay Terminal, out of a total of 14 cancellations on day six of the strike.

An overtime ban by Unifor maintenance staff began Friday, and bus drivers have been refusing to wear uniforms. The union is now considering an overtime ban for bus operators, which could result in thousands of bus trip cancellations.

The affected SeaBus sailings are:

From Lonsdale Quay
7:10am
7:40am
8:40am
9:10am
4:10pm
6:20pm
7:30pm

From Waterfront
7:25am
7:55am
8:55am
9:25am
4:25pm
6:35pm
7:45pm

For non-service job action updates – https://t.co/Viw4DNrYh1 ^RR

— TransLink BC (@TransLink) November 6, 2019

In North Vancouver, the 7:20, 740, 8:40 and 9:10 a.m. SeaBus sailings have been cut so far on Wednesday. From Waterfront Station, the 7:25, 7:55 8:55 and 9:25 sailings have been cut.

There are six cancellations scheduled for the afternoon and into the evening.

Talks between Unifor and Coast Mountain Bus Company, which operates Metro Vancouver transit services on behalf of TransLink, broke off last week, leading to job action by roughly 5,000 Unifor transit drivers, SeaBus operators and mechanics.

First SeaBus sailing of the day set to leave at 6:02am. There are 14 cancelled sailings today due to job action as the transit strike continues, 8 through the morning rush. Updates all morning on @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/cn0wkwFbSC

— Mike Lloyd (@llikemoyd) November 6, 2019

The two sides are currently not at the bargaining table, six days into the job action, and no further talks are scheduled.

Dozens of SeaBus sailings have been cancelled since Friday, and there is the possibility some bus schedules will be affected this week.

With files from Lauren Boothby