COAST Mountain Bus Company President and General Manager Michael McDaniel announced on Thursday afternoon that the company has accepted the recommendations by special mediator Vince Ready.

Earlier, CUPE 4500, which represents about 180 transit supervisors with CMBC, had announced that it had accepted the recommendations from Ready.

Thanking Ready for his work, McDaniel said: “As the special mediator noted, labour disruptions in the Lower Mainland’s public transportation system lead to significant public hardship and negative economic impacts. Without public transportation, commuters are left stranded, unable to get to work, school or medical appointments. For many, paying significant costs for alternative forms of transportation isn’t an option, and without public transit there is increased traffic and congestion for many.”

He said: “As recommended by the special mediator, the next step will be to sign a Memorandum of Agreement before the ratification process.”

The union had been threatening to launch another shutdown of bus and SeaBus services if an agreement was not reached by 12:01 a.m. on February 3.

MEANWHILE, Harry Bains, Minister of Labour, said in a statement: “I would like to thank CUPE 4500, Coast Mountain Bus Company and special mediator Vince Ready for their work to reach a tentative agreement.

“The best deals are always reached at the bargaining table.

“Understanding that the tentative agreement still needs to be ratified by the union membership, this is positive news for people in Metro Vancouver who count on reliable transit services to get to work and school every day.”