Members Vote to Strike After Coast Mountain Bus Attacks Retirement Benefits

February 18, 2014

MoveUP Members Vote to Strike After Coast Mountain Bus Attacks Retirement Benefits

BURNABY – Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union, local 378 (MoveUP) members at Coast Mountain Bus Company have voted 91% in favour of job action after Coast Mountain Bus demanded contract concessions. Most significantly, CMBC’s proposals would dismantle employees’ retiree benefits and lead to a two-tier contract.

“MoveUP members have sent a clear message that Coast Mountain Bus’ attempts to attack their retirement benefits are mean-spirited and unfair,” said MoveUP Vice-President Heather Lee.

Coast Mountain’s proposals would ask long-serving members to choose to accept a payout instead of retirement benefits, but the amount would not even cover current MSP premiums for an individual, much less extended benefits for dependent family members. Members with less than 10 years of service would be forced to accept the payout. The final result would be a two-tier agreement where any new hires would get no retirement benefits.

“I’m proud of our members for acting out of a commitment to fairness and saying no to a two-tier agreement,” Lee said.

“We hope this vote shows CMBC it’s time to get back to the bargaining table to reach a fair and reasonable agreement that won’t leave employees unable to take care of their health in retirement,” Lee added.

MoveUP represents over 400 people at Coast Mountain Bus Company, including office, administrative, customer service, training, and transit security employees.

-30-

Media Contact: Communications Officer Jarrah Hodge, 604-790-0487, jhodge@moveuptogether.ca