Striking Chilliwack bus driver Richard McManus told the crowd at Five Corners Wednesday that being without a contract from employer First Transit for three years has pushed everyone to the breaking point.

The transit workers of CUPE 561 are fighting for fair wages and a pension.

含羞草研究社淲e care deeply about the communities we serve,含羞草研究社� McManus shouted above the din. 含羞草研究社淲e are here now on strike because this job is no longer sustainable. Without a fair contract, many members will be seeking opportunities elsewhere.

McManus has been a bus driver and trainer for nine years and said he loves his job. He and his co-workers kept buses running 含羞草研究社渁s much as possible含羞草研究社� in the Eastern Fraser Valley through the trials and tribulations of the pandemic, flooding, and heat dome.

含羞草研究社淚t doesn含羞草研究社檛 matter what was thrown at us we kept showing up and doing our jobs.含羞草研究社�

But now without a contract, and without their employer doing anything to restart negotiations, they have their backs against the wall.

含羞草研究社淲e all have our breaking point,含羞草研究社� McManus said. 含羞草研究社淭his company has now pushed us to that point. We demand to be treated fairly.含羞草研究社�

The rally is part of strike action by CUPE 561 members that has suspended all bus service from Abbotsford to Hope since March 20, with the exception of essential services for HandyDART passengers in Abbotsford and Mission for renal, MS, or cancer appointments.

Abbotsford bus driver and trainer Elizabeth Roux said they deserve to earn comparable wages, not being paid 32 per cent less than other transit drivers doing the exact same job in other neighbouring Metro Vancouver communities.

含羞草研究社淪o people in the community have been asking why now, why are we disrupting their lives?含羞草研究社� Roux said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 taken many years for us to get fed up to the point of going on strike because we never wanted to take bus service away from the communities.含羞草研究社�

The transit drivers never wanted to see it go this far, she said adding: 含羞草研究社淲e gave the company so many opportunities to treat us fairly and they pushed us to this point.含羞草研究社�

The rally attracted a boisterous crowd of more than 100, mainly union members who showed up in solidarity to make some noise, wave flags and signs at passing traffic.

The union has been on full strike since March 20, before which they engaged in several three-day shut-downs and other job actions, including not collecting fares.

The affected communities are Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs and Hope.

含羞草研究社淎lmost a month later, there is no end in sight with this employer because they refuse to come to the table with a fair deal,含羞草研究社� CUPE BC president Karen Ranalletta said.

含羞草研究社淎nd we含羞草研究社檙e standing out here today on the Five Corners so that the public can see that we are ready to keep fighting and we will keep at it for as long as it takes.含羞草研究社�

The Metro Vancouver region含羞草研究社檚 transit is run by Translink, a Crown corporation, while the Eastern Fraser Valley is sub-contracted out to First Transit.

CUPE 561 represents approximately 210 First Transit employees, including drivers, mechanics, utility people and bus washers.

Also this week, a hearing should be held in B.C. Supreme Court with the union responding to a civil claim filed by the First Transit, which claims workers are committing 含羞草研究社渦nlawful acts含羞草研究社� during picketing.

First Transit alleges that union members have been obstructing vehicles and people from entering and leaving bus yards in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, and that they have 含羞草研究社渋ntimidated, coerced, threatened, harassed and interfered with含羞草研究社� their employees, contractors and others.

A CUPE spokesperson told Black Press Monday that the union would not comment other than to say that they dispute the claims.

含羞草研究社淥ur members are engaged in peaceful picketing as they are entitled to do under the Charter,含羞草研究社� the spokesperson, who asked not to be named, said via email.

含羞草研究社淭hese allegations by First Transit have not been decided upon by the court.含羞草研究社�

The company is seeking an interim and permanent injunction, as well as general and special damages.

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