UPDATE: Kelowna bus drivers strike ending after one day

Oct 4, 2022 | 4:10 PM Russ Byth

UPDATE: 8:00 a.m.
Oct. 5, 2022

The bus driver’s strike in Kelowna will be a short one: just one day.

Mayor Colin Basran has announced that both sides agreed to binding arbitration in order to come to a new agreement and the drivers will return to work Thursday (Oct 6).

Picket lines went up at 4 a.m. today after the Amalgamated Transit Union said it tried bargaining but doesn’t think First Transit cares enough about the community or drivers to bring the respect that is deserved.

Kelowna bus drivers set to walk off job
Oct 4, 2022 | 4:10 PM

Kelowna area bus drivers are still planning to walk off the job Wednesday (Oct. 5), even though the employer is offering a new three year deal with wage hikes of 9 per cent over the term.

First Transit said it’s also offering to add 13 full-time operator positions representing an increase of 11 per cent to the full-time workforce.

Members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1722 say they will start walking the picket lines at 4 a.m. Wednesday, and will hold a news conference later in the morning to outline their frustrations with First Transit.

Global News says City of Kelowna workers will be monitoring traffic and traffic lights to see if there are any major changes once the strike proceeds.

They will also be watching to see if there are new parking issues, particularly near the hospital, Okanagan College and UBC Okanagan.