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Strike Averted – For Now

February 14, 2011 By Jordan Leave a Comment

A looming bus strike in York has been averted at the last possible minute.

Yesterday we reported on the potential strike in Vaughan: “The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 may go on strike at 12:01 am if they cannot reach an agreement with private contractor Veolia Transportation Services.”

Happily union officials and transit operators reached an agreement just before midnight, but things aren’t all sunshine and roses. “We’re not pleased,” ATU Local 113 president Bob Kinnear after announcing the deal. “I don’t think any time you come out of bargaining with an employer that is more interested in profitability than the general public that you come out of it happy.”

Kinnear added that union members are still frustrated with Veolia Transportation Services and added that trouble would still be in the water if the deal is ratified. There should be a Tuesday vote over the agreement as the information gets out to union members, but the strike has been averted for the time being. Should the union decide that the agreement isn’t good enough, it’ll be back to the drawing board.

The possible strike has served as an object lesson for many in Toronto as the possibility over a trash collection strike is present in the minds of many. With mayor Rob Ford’s admitted and unabashed hardline stance on unions making the rounds, it’s possible that things could get ugly in the city with respect to many of its workers. Add to the mix Doug Ford’s “no jobs for life” tagline and many unions are gearing up for a long fight throughout the year.

So while this strike was averted for the time being, the outcome isn’t exactly glowing and it’s not a sign of goodwill between the union and the company. There’s a lot of work to be done to protect worker’s rights and that’s no easy task.

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York Bus Strike Looms

February 13, 2011 By Jordan Leave a Comment

A transit strike in Vaughan is looming and no deal has been reached to head it off at the pass. The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 may go on strike at 12:01 am if they cannot reach an agreement with private contractor Veolia Transportation Services.

The ATU provides service for the southwest YRT region. A strike would impact 28,000 riders out of Vaughan on 24 bus routes running in the area and beyond in Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Aurora, and Markham.

The latest came in at 6 pm when union president Bob Kinnear noted that the ATU and management at Veolia were no closer to reaching a deal.

In the likely event of a strike YRT Transit Inspectors and Customer Information Representatives will be on hand at bus stops to ensure that riders can get help with planning their trips and getting around in general. They will also outline “alternative modes of transportation” that residents and riders can use throughout the strike.

The ATU Local 113 represents 214 bus drivers and mechanics. “It’s important to point out that the transit workers up in York Region are the lowest paid transit workers in the GTA,” said Kinnear. “Sick days is a major issue. We have an employer that up until this point, has not been willing to provide any sick days to their employees.”

The 214 workers operate on about 131 vehicles and want to avoid a strike. “We don’t want a strike, especially in the middle of February,” Kinnear said. “We’re willing to do anything to avoid a strike, except allow our members to continue working under these sort of conditions.”

The York region’s transit services are contracted out and routes are spread out between four different companies. Their buses will still be running in the event of a Monday strike, as will buses and transit from the Toronto Transit Commission.

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Is a York Region Bus Strike in the Works?

February 10, 2011 By Jordan Leave a Comment

It looks like transit customers in Vaughan could be in for some complications as a transit strike in the region is looming. As early as Monday, 200 or more drivers and mechanics for York Region Transit could be walking.

The YRT website states that “invoke the right to strike as of 12:01 a.m. on February 14 if a new contract agreement for York Region Transit’s [YRT] Southwest Division is not reached.”

This could impact as many as 28,000 regular riders in the Vaughan area and impacts other bus routes like Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Markham, and King Township.

Drivers with YRT are part of ATU Local 113. They work for private employer Veolia Transportation and the next meeting between union members and the employer won’t take place until Sunday.

“YRT contracts all of its operation of public transit services to the private sector and the TTC.  As a result, York Region does not directly employ bus operators. Veolia Transportation is one of four private contractors that provide conventional and rapid transit operations and maintenance contracts for York Region Transit (YRT),” the YRT website says.

The site goes on to describe alternative measures that users of YRT can take, including carpooling and making alternate route arrangements.

Strikes such as these seem to be the order of the day for the Greater Toronto Area. With the looming garbage strike taking on significance in the political realm, this strike highlights the other side of the coin. With Mayor Ford’s crew looking to privatize garbage pick-up, this strike within the confines of a private apparatus should serve as a cogent reminder to the fact that workers are well within their rights to fight for fairness.

The YRT site also lists transit routes impacted by the possible strike and school routes that will need to be addressed. Schools like Holy Cross Academy and Maple High School will be impacted by the potential strike.

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