Strike averted after union says ‘framework settlement’ reached with TTC

The union representing almost 12,000 transit workers in Toronto says they’ve reached a “framework settlement” with the TTC, avoiding a strike for the time being.

ATU Local 113 president Marvin Alfred said a strike was “on hold” as the union worked through the details and arrived at a fair and reasonable contract that they could recommend to the rest of the membership.

In the meantime, buses, streetcars and subways will run as planned on Friday.

“I don’t trust the employer unless I can get it in writing,” said an exasperated Alfred. “We’ve been through it enough times where litigation is the way of the employer, and anytime we don’t have something concrete in writing that protects us, we’re concerned.”

TTC CEO Rick Leary said he was “extremely pleased” with the tentative framework settlement.

“This is a fair deal that is affordable for the TTC and respectful of the important work the 11,500 members of ATU Local 113 do every day to keep our system safe and our service reliable.”

Leary said he would not share details of the agreement pending union ratification and approval from the TTC board.

After indicating earlier in the day that no progress had been made in contract talks, the union says they finally saw action on critical issues such as job security, protections on contracting out and improvement in benefits for active members and pensioners late Thursday.

Alfred put the delay in getting a deal done at the last minute squarely at the feet of the TTC.

“We have a problem with the employer, and if they’re so confident that a deal was available, maybe they should have brought those resources to the table earlier to alleviate all the passenger and customer frustration – also transit worker frustration – in waiting for a deal to be done.”

A strike threatened to bring the city to a grinding halt, idling the TTC’s fleet of subways, streetcars and buses, while clogging Toronto’s already congested roadways with extra traffic.

The last time the TTC went on strike in 2008 it ended after less than two days when the provincial government legislated employees back to work on the mayor’s request.