The Central Okanagan could see its first transit strike in nearly six years.

Unionized Kelowna transit drivers have voted 97 per cent in favour to approve a strike vote, if necessary, to back their contract demands.

乌鸦传媒淲e took a strike vote last night (Aug. 28), said Al Peressini, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1722.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e been negotiating since February with First Transit and they haven乌鸦传媒檛 brought us any money until just last week, and it was well below anything so we didn乌鸦传媒檛 even take that to the membership.乌鸦传媒�

Peressini told Capital News one of the biggest issues is that the transit system in the Central Okanagan needs more funding.

乌鸦传媒淭he company can乌鸦传媒檛 hire and retain professional, reliable workers,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hey can乌鸦传媒檛 afford to live here.乌鸦传媒�

Right now they乌鸦传媒檙e averaging about 50 per cent of the people they train stay, added Peressini.

Once hired, drivers are not guaranteed hours, have no benefits, and work as needed, on call. Once trained and certified with a Class 2 licence and air ticket, Peressini said many drivers leave.

乌鸦传媒淭hey go and find other driving jobs where they乌鸦传媒檙e guaranteed 40 hours (a week), and benefits. So we乌鸦传媒檙e after a living wage for our members.乌鸦传媒�

Peressini added because of a driver shortage many routes are not being covered properly or at all.

乌鸦传媒淭o me that乌鸦传媒檚 wrong,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淎 company is hired to provide a service, yet they aren乌鸦传媒檛 providing the service.乌鸦传媒�

Although drivers have voted to approve a strike vote, it doesn乌鸦传媒檛 mean they will necessarily walk off the job.

乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 our last resort,乌鸦传媒� explained Peressini. 乌鸦传媒淲e don乌鸦传媒檛 want to disrupt service for customers. 乌鸦传媒淭he area is growing and transit should be growing to meet the demand, but the private company is not doing it.乌鸦传媒�

Drivers have been without a contract since March this year. The last transit strike in the Central Okanagan was 2016.

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gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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