James Lewis | Email news tips to jlewis@cknw.com
5/20/2012
Updated: Transit officials in Metro Vancouver admit there may be cause for concern should unionized Canadian Pacific railway workers walk off the job this week.
The teamsters could go on strike as early as Wednesday, after serving 72-hour strike notice this weekend.
CP provides track space and locomotive staff for Translink's West Coast Express trains, and a strike could throw thousands of commutes into chaos.
"Keep in mind that upwards of 6,000 people a day use that service, so the ability to provide them all with a ride on the bus is quite limited. We don't have that number of buses spared to be able to operate,” says Fred Cummings with BC Rapid Transit.
He adds contingency plans are in the works, and riders will be notified as needed.
In the meantime, Cummings is hoping for a mediated settlement that won't affect normal operations.
Local 320 vice-president Craig Brown says his members work as both engineers and conductors on West Coast Express trains.
As for what's prompted the strike mandate?
"[Canadian Pacific] is after concessions on our pensions and different working conditions and such that are totally unacceptable to our position here.
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