Bus drivers across the Central Okanagan walked off the job and started walking picket lines early Thursday morning.

"The Union has made every effort to make this contract a fair settlement for all parties. As of the time of this release the company has not responded so as of   Nov. 10 all Transit Services will be suspended," said Scott Lovell, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1722.

The 217 transit workers in the Central Okanagan have been without a contract since April 1 and the Lovell said they were close to reaching a deal Wednesday night, then an offer from First Canada that didn't meet even their most basic needs came in and that triggered job action.

香蕉视频直播淲别 are not being treated fairly, or like drivers in anywhere else in 叠.颁.香蕉视频直播� said Lovell. 香蕉视频直播泪迟香蕉视频直播檚 embarrassing and 蝉补诲.香蕉视频直播�

One of the main sticking points in contract negotiations has to do with what he calls a 香蕉视频直播渂耻蝉 is a 产耻蝉香蕉视频直播� system.

In other cities, like Victoria, the size of the bus 诲辞别蝉苍香蕉视频直播檛 affect wages. Locally, if a driver is assigned to drive a smaller community bus, he or she is paid about $4 per hour less while driving the smaller bus, despite licensing requirements being the same.

香蕉视频直播泪迟香蕉视频直播檚 incredibly 耻苍蹿补颈谤,香蕉视频直播� said Lovell, adding that First Canada 诲颈诲苍香蕉视频直播檛 even touch that issue with their latest contract offer.

Nor did they offer much in the way of wage increases.

香蕉视频直播淲别 are being paid about 15 per cent less than what they make in the Lower Mainland and when you add in the pension we 诲辞苍香蕉视频直播檛 get that puts us at another 10 to 12 per cent less than them 香蕉视频直播� and we have a similar cost of living,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Lovell added that local drivers 补谤别苍香蕉视频直播檛 asking for parity with their counterparts in other areas of the province, rather just a raise of 2.5 per cent, which was also denied.

In September, 92 per cent of the Local 1722 of the Amalgamated Transit Union's membership voted in favour of strike action.