Greater Victoria transit workers are escalating job action Tuesday, with an overtime ban expected to affect bus service across the region. Unifor Local 333 says its members will continue working their regular shifts but will no longer take on overtime at BC Transit. The union says scheduled service relies on workers taking overtime, meaning riders could see more cancellations and delays. The overtime ban comes after more than a year without a collective agreement. The previous contract expired March 31, 2025. “Our members did not arrive at this escalation by choice,” Unifor National President Lana Payne said in a statement. “They arrived here because nothing short of it has moved the employer.” “This dispute is about run times, recovery times and wages that have fallen behind,” Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle said in a statement. The union says members began a uniform ban Aug. 17 as the first stage of job action and that it is prepared to return to the bargaining table. BC Transit says it is preparing for the possibility of further labour action and is working to provide riders with advance notice of service impacts. The job action does not involve Victoria handyDART service.
