Bulletin
CMBC – Mask Policy
August 7, 2020
To: All MoveUP members at Coast Mountain Bus Company
Your union would like to reiterate its sincere appreciation for all the hard work by all our members at Coast Mountain Bus Company (“CMBC”). The past several months have been very challenging for our members at CMBC. However, with resilience and determination all our members have responded to provide an essential service to the people of Metro Vancouver.
Your union learned yesterday of a new policy that TransLink will be making the wearing of face coverings on transit mandatory effective Monday August 24, 2020. Your union is grateful that TransLink has heeded the advice of the Province and B.C’s Provincial Health Officer.
As an employee with CMBC you are recommended to abide by this policy when riding the transit system while working and commuting. In order to keep yourself and others around you safe. We have been advised that there may be exemptions for front-line employees under certain conditions. Specially, employees will not be required to wear a mask if they are behind a protective barrier (i.e. bus operators), or if they are working in area designated for employees and not for public access. In addition, the policy will only apply on-board transit vehicles and does not include stations and bus exchanges. If you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing a mask, please connect with a steward or your union representative in order to seek an exemption from this policy.
Your union was advised that TransLink and CMBC will be initially focusing on awareness and education about the mandatory mask policy. Front-line employees may inform or remind customers to wear a face covering when on-board transit vehicles. For our members in Transit Security, you may find yourselves responding to calls where this policy is not adhered too.
TransLink has advised your union that they will continue to hand out reusable masks at transit hubs over the coming weeks and we will additionally be procuring a supply of disposable masks for the use of front-line employees.
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to reach out to your union representative.
In Solidarity,
Parm Sandhar, Union Representative