BURNABY – SkyTrain workers, represented by CUPE 7000, have voted to accept Labour Relations Board appointed mediator Grant McArthur’s contract recommendations of settlement.
“Our goal was to get closer to parity with other transportation workers in the Lower Mainland,” says CUPE 7000 President Gerry Cunningham. “The recommendations do that.”
Cunningham points to McArthur’s recommendation that commits SkyTrain to finally provide its workers with a Pay Direct Card for extended health benefits – rather than the pay first collect later method currently under use.
The Pay Direct Card method of accessing extended health benefits is significantly more costly for employers and was a source of frustration and inconvenience for SkyTrain workers who knew that other transportation workers, like Coast Mountain Bus company employees, were already receiving this benefit.
The recommendations also included minor sick-time improvements.
“We can now say with confidence,” says Cunningham, “that a strike has been averted at SkyTrain.”
CUPE 7000 represents 516 SkyTrain attendants, control operators, skilled trades, maintenance and clerical staff that maintain and operate the SkyTrain system.
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Contact: Mike Dumler, CUPE National Representative, cell: 604.340.6774
Gerry Cunningham, CUPE 7000 President, 604.434.7006
Diane Kalen, CUPE National Communications Representative, 604.291.1940, ext. 240