ATU local 113 says as TTC strike looms

Bargaining is nonetheless ongoing between the TTC and the Amalgamated Transit Union 113 as they hope to forestall a strike with the deadline for a deal looming.

Employees voted in favour of a strike after their contract expired on March 31. The deadline for a deal to be reached is June 7.

Marvin Alfred, president of ATU local113, mentioned they’re hoping there is a chance to forestall a strike, however developments are gradual.

“Progress is restricted, sadly a few of our core points are usually not being addressed appropriately,” mentioned Alfred.

Alfred mentioned job safety is a serious sticking level.

“It’s crucial the system is sustained, and we’re really negotiating to guard the TTC from itself, when you’ve gotten cross boundary and different companies attempting to supply transit, it really works towards the curiosity of Toronto riders.”

Different points on the desk are advantages and wages.  “We’re not wherever close to a deal,” mentioned Alfred.

Based on the transit company’s 2023 CEO report, the TTC employs over 16,000 folks with12,000 of these employees represented by ATU 113.

CityNews reached out to the TTC to ask about contingency plans being made. They are saying they’re optimistic a deal could be completed as their principal focus is reaching an settlement.

They add that “as was mentioned final week and as was the case in 2008, if there’s a full labour withdrawal, there will probably be no TTC service.”

The Metropolis additionally tells CityNews “it wouldn’t be acceptable to pre-empt negotiations as bargaining between the TTC and ATU 113 is ongoing.”

The final time the TTC went on strike was April 2008. It lasted lower than 48 hours, after staff have been legislated back-to-work by the provincial authorities in place on the time.

In 2011, a provincial regulation deemed TTC workers important, that means they weren’t allowed to strike. Courts nevertheless, overturned that regulation final 12 months, ruling that it violated employees charters’ rights.

As for different companies which might be planning for a doable TTC strike, Metrolinx mentioned they all the time have contingency plans in place, within the occasion of any service disruption. 

 GO trains and UP Specific will proceed to function as regular and our stations will stay open.