The Camosun College Student Society is concerned that a recent contract between BC Transit and the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) will increase the number of buses passing by students when they are heading to class in September.
Through a private contract between BC Transit and the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA), BC Transit has contracted out six buses to use as shuttles for cruise-ship passengers from the Ogden Point ferry terminal to downtown Victoria.
BC Transit has leased out these buses for approximately $100,000 in revenue, and the buses are being operated by Wilson’s Transportation rather than by BC Transit drivers.
The bus drivers’ union of Greater Victoria, Canadian Auto Workers Local 333 (CAW 333), has noted that Wilson’s has a number of buses available for use by GVHA, so the motive behind BC Transit lending out their buses is unknown.
According to the union, the six leased buses are connected to recent route cancellations in the Greater Victoria area.
CAW 333 is currently in the process of filing a grievance against BC Transit, as the act of leasing out buses on a private contract violates the collective agreement between CAW 333 and BC Transit.
The contract between BC Transit and the GVHA ends at the end of September. This means that the buses won’t be in use for one of the busiest months of the year, and a particularly important one for students.
Last year, during the month of September, full buses passed up roughly 16,000 people.