Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Transit Windsor and Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) labor groups and employees have been negotiating various agreements to address issues such as compensation and worker safety
TTC
On Feb. 8, electrical workers at the TTC voted 99.3 percent in favor of strike action if TTC does not return to the bargaining table with a reasonable proposal. Workers want an offer that addresses the rising cost of living.
“We love working at the TTC. We’re huge supporters of public transit. However, at the same time, the cost of living in Toronto has skyrocketed,” said Sumit Guleria, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2. “The reality is that we’re bleeding workers because other employers offer significantly better wages.”
CUPE Local 2 represents more than 650 communications, electrical and signal workers who keep the TTC running safely. The collective agreement expired in March 2022.
Transit Windsor
Hours before a transit strike was set to begin, a last-minute tentative agreement was reached between Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 616, who represents almost 300 workers of Transit Windsor, and Transit Windsor management.
"Our commitment to transit riders and Windsorites was front and center as we stated from the beginning, keeping the service running while balancing the needs of transit workers," said ATU Local 616 President/Business Agent Dragan Markovic. “We want the public to know that we take great pride in serving our communities and we are extremely grateful to the riders and the public for their patience and support over the past few months of negotiations.”
CMBC
CMBC and CUPE 4500 have agreed to the recommendations brought forward by Special Mediator Vince Ready to end the labor dispute between the two sides. CMBC and CUP3 4500 were locked in a labor dispute that culminated in a two-day strike in late January. Following the strike, Ready was appointed as special mediator to bring the two sides together.
Both sides will sign a Memorandum of Agreement before the ratification process of the new agreement begins.
“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,” said British Columbia Minister of Labor Harry Bains.
