Image: CUPE Local 561 Twitter / CUPE 561 unionized bus operators participate in a rally in late February. Despite sentiments to the opposite from CUPE 561, B.C. Transit says it has confidence in the new owners that have acquired First Transit, the company that previously employed bus drivers that operate B.C. Transit buses in Chilliwack, Abbotsford and the surrounding communities. The new owner of First Transit is Transdev Group. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

B.C. Transit

B.C. Transit downplays impact of new multinational owners of First Transit

Mar 16, 2023 | 2:50 PM

CHILLIWACK — As another bus strike looms in just four days from now, the provincial Crown agency responsible for the delivery of transit services outside of Greater Vancouver says it has confidence in the new company that has taken over First Transit, the company previously responsible for employing bus drivers in Chilliwack and the Fraser Valley.

In a statement to Fraser Valley Today on Wednesday (March 15), B.C. Transit says it had not previously issued any formal statements about the acquisition of First Transit by Transdev Group.

Fraser Valley Today became aware of the new owners of First Transit after a member of the public leaked an internal CUPE letter to the media. B.C. Transit did not notify the public about the new owner.

In that letter dated March 7, Transdev Group CEO Arthur Nicolet announced that Transdev has acquired First Transit, meaning that it has assumed all First Transit Canada activities.

“We are excited about the opportunities this acquisition presents and we are eager to start working with you to ensure a smooth transition for all employees,” CEO Nicolet stated in his letter addressed to CUPE Local 561. “We understand that this is a significant change; we want to assure you that we are committed to working with the unions to address any questions or concerns and to ensure that all employees are treated fairly throughout this transition.”

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Meanwhile, B.C. Transit says it is their understanding that Transdev, as a company, will not adversely affect bus service levels in the Fraser Valley.

“B.C. Transit has not issued any formal statements about this sale, but it is our understanding that the acquisition of First Transit by Transdev will not impact service in the communities they currently operate,” B.C. Transit wrote in its own statement.

While CUPE Local 561 has raised an issue with the multinational company Transdev owning First Transit because of what it is says is a lack of ties to Fraser Valley communities, B.C. Transit found no issues with Transdev.

“Transdev is a global transportation provider with operations in Eastern Canada, and we are confident that our customers in transit systems with this operator will continue to receive the safe and reliable transit service they are accustomed to,” B.C. Transit wrote in its statement released Wednesday, March 15.

CUPE 561 has not issued any statements about the status of labour negotiations on Twitter as of Thursday; it was slated to conduct three days of labour talks this week. Its unionized bus operators previously walked off the job and conducted a two-day strike February 27-28, and a second strike of three days March 9-11.