Veolia bus drivers in York Region reject latest offer
Posted January 17, 2012 2:11 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 have rejected the latest offer from Veolia Transportation, CityNews has learned.
The Veolia drivers and mechanics voted 75 per cent against the proposal Tuesday afternoon in Vaughan.
The 177 members, along with other bus drivers for First Canada and Miller Transit, have been on strike in York Region since Oct. 24, 2011, and have inconvenienced about 44,000 riders on 60 per cent of routes.
Tuesday’s vote was imposed by the Ministry of Labour, ATU Local 113 president Bob Kinnear told CityNews.
“The employer had one opportunity to make a request. Our membership rejected that offer … despite the tactics of [York Region chairman and chief executive] Bill Fisch and York Region.”
The offer, which was voted by secret ballot, was rejected because the region refuses to acknowledge employee benefits, Kinnear said.
Veolia Transportation said in a release it was disappointed by the results, and that it “intends to continue to work with the York Region to restore service as quickly as possible.”
Last month, Kinnear said the most contentious issue was the cost of the health-care benefits package, which is currently split 50-50 between employees and the company.
The strike has now lasted 85 days.
York Region transit officials told CityNews they have asked the two remaining bus service providers to come up with a plan by Friday on how to resume service. The officials acknowledge this plan could include bringing in outside workers.
Last month, ATU Local 113 members refused to even vote on an offer from Veolia. On Dec. 23, 2011, the company said it had offered a 10.8 per cent wage increase over four years.
In a statement, the union called that offer a “piece of crap.”
On Monday, York Region terminated its contract with First Canada, which operates 29 YRT/Viva routes for the region, and is looking for a replacement, the municipality said in a release.
The municipality said it also issued letters to York Bus Rapid Transit Services (Veolia) and Miller Transit requesting “a detailed service recovery plan” by Friday, “outlining additional region-wide service restoration options while the transit strike continues.”
Kinnear said the municipality’s tactic of firing First Canada “in an attempt to intimidate our members” didn’t work, and that the union will file an unfair labour practices complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board.
On Jan. 6, members of ATU Local 1587 voted 83 per cent to reject Miller Transit’s latest contract offer. Ninety-two per cent of members voted.
A new contract with a different contractor to operate First Canada’s routes will be presented to York Regional Council on Jan. 26 for review and approval, York Region said Monday. The new contractor would provide services on Route 98 on Yonge Street between Newmarket and Richmond Hill beginning Feb. 5.
York Region chairman and chief executive Bill Fisch said in the release that it is “outrageous” that nearly a month has passed since First Canada and ATU Local 1587 last met to negotiate their agreement.
