UPDATE: In response to strike notice issued on Tuesday afternoon, Stephen O'Brien, the city's action general manager of human resources, provided the following statement on Wednesday morning.
"The city has been meeting with ATU at the bargaining table daily since Thursday, October 31. We remain committed to the collective bargaining process and are continuing towards productive discussions with ATU. Our focus remains on working with ATU towards a successfully bargained collective agreement.
*****
City transit users may soon have to make alternative travel plans, with a bus strike set to begin on Thursday at midnight if a new employment deal isn’t reached before then.
The labour action, which was announced by union officials via a Monday afternoon news release, comes after contract negotiations between the Amalgamated Transit Union local 1189 and the City of Guelph broke down.
“We hope to reach a deal at the table this week and are prepared to continue bargaining at the table if the city comes prepared with a much better offer and no concessions. Otherwise, we must respect that our members, Guelph Transit workers, voted 99 per cent in favour of a strike if the city is not willing to negotiate a fair contract – and that’s what we will do,” said ATU Local 1189 president Scott Bate in the release. “We are giving advance notice to ensure our passengers have time to make alternate travel arrangements.”
The union local represents conventional drivers, mobility drivers, utility cleaners who clean the buses, mechanics, those who order the parts for the mechanics, those who fix the bus shelters – basically everyone involved in Guelph Transit besides administrative staff and management.
Last month after contract talks broke down, the union filed for a no-board report with the Ministry of Labour, setting up a legal strike position if negotiations aren’t successful. Among the key issues are pay, a better work environment and improved work-life balance.
The union plans a "practice picket" in front of city hall from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
City officials said they would respond to a request for comment Tuesday morning.
