UPDATE 12:30 p.m Planned industrial action by Central Okanagan workers Friday morning won’t keep buses off the roads. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1722 secretary Scott Lovell told Castanet News Thursday morning the work will begin gradually, and if a full strike is the direction it eventually goes, the riding public will be effectively informed. “There was a meeting of the Labor Relations Board yesterday to look at defining essential services,” Lovell said. “If there was something that would affect that order, for example a service withdrawal that could affect what the order says, then the union has to give another 72 hours’ notice.” Before the service is completely withdrawn, Lovell says there are other options available to the union, including a uniform ban, overtime ban, non-fare collection and information picketing. Transit workers will stop wearing the First Transit uniform or logo in favor of T-shirts to show solidarity with each other and the union bargaining committee. The union is taking action to advocate for fair compensation to keep and attract truck drivers in a system that has been forced to cancel some routes due to driver shortages. “Last Friday, eight or nine shifts were not covered. We had people stay beyond their shift to help the public,” Lovell added. “It’s been three years in the making. We told them three years ago, if we didn’t make some small changes like guaranteed hours, it doesn’t cost extra money…that lets me know I’m going to get a regular salary. “This removes an important issue about why someone would go somewhere else.” ORIGINAL 10:20 am Workers in the Central Okanagan are expected to start work Friday morning. Officials with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1722 tell Castanet News the form of that job action will be announced later today. Union officials say a wide range of job actions are available. However, they say the public will be given enough notice if transit service is affected. The union announced earlier this week that 97 percent of its members had voted to take industrial action if necessary. Transit workers are without a contract after their previous agreement expired in March. Workers last went on strike to support contract demands in November 2016. The transit system was shut down for 13 days as a result of this strike. Local union president Al Peresini said earlier this week that wages and benefits are so low that the company cannot retain or hire skilled workers. An underfunded transit system means poor service for riders and poor conditions for workers. Local governments are asking the province to step in and stop the pending job action. Note: This story has been changed to reflect that bus service will not be fully affected by the scheduled work for Friday. The union will announce details of its strike later today.

title: “Kelowna Regional Transit Workers Plan To Strike Friday Kelowna News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-26” author: “Kathryn Burton”

UPDATE 12:30 p.m Planned industrial action by Central Okanagan workers Friday morning won’t keep buses off the roads. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1722 secretary Scott Lovell told Castanet News Thursday morning the work will begin gradually, and if a full strike is the direction it eventually goes, the riding public will be effectively informed. “There was a meeting of the Labor Relations Board yesterday to look at defining essential services,” Lovell said. “If there was something that would affect that order, for example a service withdrawal that could affect what the order says, then the union has to give another 72 hours’ notice.” Before the service is completely withdrawn, Lovell says there are other options available to the union, including a uniform ban, overtime ban, non-fare collection and information picketing. Transit workers will stop wearing the First Transit uniform or logo in favor of T-shirts to show solidarity with each other and the union bargaining committee. The union is taking action to advocate for fair compensation to keep and attract truck drivers in a system that has been forced to cancel some routes due to driver shortages. “Last Friday, eight or nine shifts were not covered. We had people stay beyond their shift to help the public,” Lovell added. “It’s been three years in the making. We told them three years ago, if we didn’t make some small changes like guaranteed hours, it doesn’t cost extra money…that lets me know I’m going to get a regular salary. “This removes an important issue about why someone would go somewhere else.” ORIGINAL 10:20 am Workers in the Central Okanagan are expected to start work Friday morning. Officials with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1722 tell Castanet News the form of that job action will be announced later today. Union officials say a wide range of job actions are available. However, they say the public will be given enough notice if transit service is affected. The union announced earlier this week that 97 percent of its members had voted to take industrial action if necessary. Transit workers are without a contract after their previous agreement expired in March. Workers last went on strike to support contract demands in November 2016. The transit system was shut down for 13 days as a result of this strike. Local union president Al Peresini said earlier this week that wages and benefits are so low that the company cannot retain or hire skilled workers. An underfunded transit system means poor service for riders and poor conditions for workers. Local governments are asking the province to step in and stop the pending job action. Note: This story has been changed to reflect that bus service will not be fully affected by the scheduled work for Friday. The union will announce details of its strike later today.

title: “Kelowna Regional Transit Workers Plan To Strike Friday Kelowna News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-03” author: “Deshawn Bush”

UPDATE 12:30 p.m Planned industrial action by Central Okanagan workers Friday morning won’t keep buses off the roads. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1722 secretary Scott Lovell told Castanet News Thursday morning the work will begin gradually, and if a full strike is the direction it eventually goes, the riding public will be effectively informed. “There was a meeting of the Labor Relations Board yesterday to look at defining essential services,” Lovell said. “If there was something that would affect that order, for example a service withdrawal that could affect what the order says, then the union has to give another 72 hours’ notice.” Before the service is completely withdrawn, Lovell says there are other options available to the union, including a uniform ban, overtime ban, non-fare collection and information picketing. Transit workers will stop wearing the First Transit uniform or logo in favor of T-shirts to show solidarity with each other and the union bargaining committee. The union is taking action to advocate for fair compensation to keep and attract truck drivers in a system that has been forced to cancel some routes due to driver shortages. “Last Friday, eight or nine shifts were not covered. We had people stay beyond their shift to help the public,” Lovell added. “It’s been three years in the making. We told them three years ago, if we didn’t make some small changes like guaranteed hours, it doesn’t cost extra money…that lets me know I’m going to get a regular salary. “This removes an important issue about why someone would go somewhere else.” ORIGINAL 10:20 am Workers in the Central Okanagan are expected to start work Friday morning. Officials with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1722 tell Castanet News the form of that job action will be announced later today. Union officials say a wide range of job actions are available. However, they say the public will be given enough notice if transit service is affected. The union announced earlier this week that 97 percent of its members had voted to take industrial action if necessary. Transit workers are without a contract after their previous agreement expired in March. Workers last went on strike to support contract demands in November 2016. The transit system was shut down for 13 days as a result of this strike. Local union president Al Peresini said earlier this week that wages and benefits are so low that the company cannot retain or hire skilled workers. An underfunded transit system means poor service for riders and poor conditions for workers. Local governments are asking the province to step in and stop the pending job action. Note: This story has been changed to reflect that bus service will not be fully affected by the scheduled work for Friday. The union will announce details of its strike later today.

title: “Kelowna Regional Transit Workers Plan To Strike Friday Kelowna News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-14” author: “Michelle Fanney”

UPDATE 12:30 p.m Planned industrial action by Central Okanagan workers Friday morning won’t keep buses off the roads. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1722 secretary Scott Lovell told Castanet News Thursday morning the work will begin gradually, and if a full strike is the direction it eventually goes, the riding public will be effectively informed. “There was a meeting of the Labor Relations Board yesterday to look at defining essential services,” Lovell said. “If there was something that would affect that order, for example a service withdrawal that could affect what the order says, then the union has to give another 72 hours’ notice.” Before the service is completely withdrawn, Lovell says there are other options available to the union, including a uniform ban, overtime ban, non-fare collection and information picketing. Transit workers will stop wearing the First Transit uniform or logo in favor of T-shirts to show solidarity with each other and the union bargaining committee. The union is taking action to advocate for fair compensation to keep and attract truck drivers in a system that has been forced to cancel some routes due to driver shortages. “Last Friday, eight or nine shifts were not covered. We had people stay beyond their shift to help the public,” Lovell added. “It’s been three years in the making. We told them three years ago, if we didn’t make some small changes like guaranteed hours, it doesn’t cost extra money…that lets me know I’m going to get a regular salary. “This removes an important issue about why someone would go somewhere else.” ORIGINAL 10:20 am Workers in the Central Okanagan are expected to start work Friday morning. Officials with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1722 tell Castanet News the form of that job action will be announced later today. Union officials say a wide range of job actions are available. However, they say the public will be given enough notice if transit service is affected. The union announced earlier this week that 97 percent of its members had voted to take industrial action if necessary. Transit workers are without a contract after their previous agreement expired in March. Workers last went on strike to support contract demands in November 2016. The transit system was shut down for 13 days as a result of this strike. Local union president Al Peresini said earlier this week that wages and benefits are so low that the company cannot retain or hire skilled workers. An underfunded transit system means poor service for riders and poor conditions for workers. Local governments are asking the province to step in and stop the pending job action. Note: This story has been changed to reflect that bus service will not be fully affected by the scheduled work for Friday. The union will announce details of its strike later today.