Unionized municipal workers in Chilliwack area support striking bus drivers

CHILLIWACK — CUPE Local 458, which represents over 500 municipal workers from Chilliwack, FVRD, Cultus Lake Park Board and surrounding government agencies, says it supports unionized bus drivers who are on their second day of an indefinite work stoppage impacting B.C. Transit service in Chilliwack, Abbotsford and Mission.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 458 wrote on its Facebook page that it backs the efforts of striking bus drivers who are seeking higher wages compared to their Metro Vancouver counterparts as well as a pension.

“We are standing in solidarity with CUPE Local 561,” CUPE 458 wrote on Facebook Monday (Mar. 20). “If you haven’t heard their stories – go to their page and find out what they are fighting for,” referring to the website (weneedalift.ca).

CUPE 458 members represent municipal workers of the District of Kent, District of Hope, Hope Recreation, Fraser Valley Regional District, Cultus Lake Parks Board, City of Chilliwack, Chilliwack Crime Prevention and the Village of Harrison Hot Springs. Its members provide support to all the municipal and board departments in the eastern Fraser Valley. It has over 500 members in its local organization.