Mediation in transit dispute

Photo: Nicholas Johansen - Castanet File Photo

The current stalemate between First Canada and its transit drivers in Kelowna is going to mediation.

Amalgamated Transit Union 1722 president Scott Lovell said mediation has been set for Nov. 2 and 3.

Lovell said there is some level of frustration that it will take six weeks for the sides to sit before a mediator.

He said that was the time frame the company had set for another face-to-face meeting.

Last week, union members voted 92 per cent in favour of strike action to back demands for a new contract.

Following that vote, Lovell called the company's final offer insulting. It offered a three-year deal with a 0.5 per cent increase in year one, a 0.5 per cent increase in year two and a one per cent increase in year three.

Lovell said that comes on the heels of the previous contract, which gave transit drivers zero, zero and two per cent over three-years.

The transit workers have been without a contract for six months.

The BC Labour Relations Board has appointed Grant McArthur to mediate the dispute.

"Going on strike is the last thing we want to do," said Lovell. "It hurts the people we care about the most, our customers."