Transit Union Divided Over Deal

The deal that saved the city from commuter chaos may be in trouble.

TTC workers are set to vote on the agreement that averted a transit strike and it’s uncertain if the majority of employees will cast a ballot in favour of the tentative contract despite the fact their union president urged them to accept it.

The top brass of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, which represents 8,900 TTC workers, gathered to discuss the fine print of the deal Wednesday but seven of the 15 executive board members expressed their dissatisfaction by walking out of the meeting and refusing to endorse the agreement.

TTC workers vote on the tentative contract Friday.

On Sunday ATU Local 113 President Bob Kinnear said he didn’t get everything he wanted in the deal, but said the union made serious inroads when it comes to benefit improvements and other issues and said he has no problem recommending the offer for ratification.

But the tentative agreement didn’t impress everyone, including the union vice president who has voted against it.

Compensation for injured workers, benefit improvements and wage parity with transit workers across the GTA were sticking points in the negotiations. After talks went down to the wire, passing the 4pm deadline Sunday, Kinnear announced a strike had been averted. The TTC offered a three-year agreement that includes a three percent pay hike annually – making them the best paid transit workers in the GTA – and phased-in benefit improvements.

Hundreds of maintenance employees are apparently upset over the issue of contracting out work and have signalled they’ll vote against the deal. They’re hoping the operators will support them in their opposition as the maintenance workers backed drivers during the last negotiations.

“This contract right now, even though the drivers are upset, it’s more for the drivers than us.  This contract for us is a zero,” complained one maintenace worker.  “It shouldn’t even be written on paper, it shouldn’t be accepted.”

Transit commissioners have already ratified the deal. TTC Chair Adam Giambrone didn’t seem overly concerned about the latest trouble.

“I think it’s not surprising that there are some people who are concerned about the contract,” he said.  “I think you’d expect that in any group of 9000 people there are varying opinions.  Almost no referendum in any context gets 100%.”

City council will be voting on a motion next week to ask the province to make the TTC an essential service.