Service disruptions may be on the way for Guelph Transit, following the breakdown of contract negotiations between city officials and the union representing drivers and others.
In a Wednesday morning news release, Scott Bate, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) local 1189, pledged to give the public three days notice of any pending labour action.
The union has filed for a no-board report with the Ministry of Labour "when negotiations with the City of Guelph broke down." A no-board report is an official 'next step' toward a possible legal work stoppage.
“Let me be clear, we are committed to ensuring that our passengers are kept informed and are not left scrambling or stranded at bus stops, so the ATU will not withdraw our service or take direct strike action without giving a three-day notice to our riders,” he said in the release, which notes labour action could begin next month.
With about 260 members, the union 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.
The two sides remain “miles apart” from a deal, the release states.
“The City remains committed to the collective bargaining process. We have appreciated the discussions we’ve had with ATU over the last few months," said Stephen O’Brien, the City’s acting-general manager of human resources, in an emailed statement to GuelphToday. "Our focus is on continuing productive discussions toward a successfully bargained collective agreement.”
Efforts to reach Bate for additional information weren’t immediately successful. Bate previously told GuelphToday the main issues include things like work-life balance and recruitment.
“While we have no way of predicting what next steps the employer is contemplating, we believe it’s important to let riders and the general public know: if a disruption to transit occurs at the beginning of November, it will be a direct result of the employer refusing to negotiate a fair contract and the City’s refusal to stop bringing concessions to the table. It will not be an action taken lightly by the ATU,” Bate continued.
“Our negotiations team knows how important transit service is to our community, and we deeply care about those who depend on us, so we are fully committed to getting this contract settled at the bargaining table by reaching the fair deal that our members deserve – but Guelph Transit must come back to the table prepared to make an offer that meets the needs of our transit workers. If not, our members are prepared to do what is necessary to get a fair deal.”
Frustrated by a perceived lack of progress in negotiations, last month Guelph Transit workers voted 99.5 per cent in favour of a strike if it becomes necessary.
