Whistler (BC), Canada – Following stalled labor negotiations, over 90 unionized transit operators representing Unifor Local 114 have served a strike notice to PW Transit Canada Ltd., a private company that operates Whistler’s public transit system.

No date has yet been set for a strike, but the job action is eligible to begin as soon as this Saturday. Unifor has committed to giving the traveling public a minimum of 24 hours notice before beginning any job action.

“We want to get this resolved and continue to serve the public in Whistler and Squamish,” said Gavin Davies, Unifor’s National Representative on the bargaining committee. “But unfortunately the employer doesn’t appear interested in reaching a deal during the peak ski season.”

Despite two consecutive days negotiating with a mediator, both sides failed to reach an agreement. Outstanding issues include the ability to take paid vacation time, a retirement savings plan, shift schedules, and wages.

Canada’s largest private sector labor union, Unifor was formed in 2013 through the merger of the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions. PWTransit, a division of Calgary-based Pacific Western Transportation, operates fixed-route and para transit systems on behalf of municipalities and provincial operating authorities located in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.