York transit workers clog buses in new strike tactic

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York transit workers clog buses in new strike tactic

Transit workers in York Region picketed outside the Richmond Hill Centre on Monday, Dec. 5, 2011.

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The Canadian Press

Date: Wednesday Dec. 7, 2011 8:43 AM ET

RICHMOND HILL, Ont. — Striking York Region Transit workers are trying a new tactic in their bid to get contract talks restarted.

About 200 workers boarded buses at Richmond Hill Centre bound for Finch station this morning, leaving fewer seats for regular commuters.

Amalgamated Transit Union spokesman Bill Reno says he's not sure how many strikers were on each bus, but says a few are "taking the tour."

The 600 employees at Veolia Transportation, Miller Transit and First Canada are in the seventh week of their strike.

Reno says the union is willing to return to the bargaining table and would end the strike immediately if the dispute was sent to arbitration.

The union says the main issues are the gap in wages and benefits between the York workers and their counterparts elsewhere in the Greater Toronto Area.

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Robert Ramsay
said
0 0

Thankfully I am not living in York Region right now and do not have to deal with the strinking transit union. This latest tactic of clogging the buses with strikens and limiting the number of seats for regular communters is, I think, going to come back and bite the union on the bum.

Ivan, Markham
said
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I always wondered about strike pay and the monthly union dues they pay.
Someone informed me it's about the same amount as Unemployment deductions, if this is correct they should get the same pay as being unemployed by the Union. Given that the TTC cannot strike. What is the union doing with all that money they are collecting. I have heard that some have lost their cars and savings and receiving calls from collectors. It appears the Union members are also being short changed by the union

Bill
said
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I bet when they were hired in York they were happy they got a job. Who says they have to make the same money as workers in a different area, the union? Be glad you have a job and make do like the rest of us.
Blame the union for your sparse Christmas.

Christine
said
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Not a smart move on the union's part. People are inconveinienced enough by the strike, now they can't even get a seat on the bus?

Alanna
said
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I understand the purpose of this strike, but the fact that many commuters including my husband are,to travelling 2 hours to work. With no buses North of Bernard Termanal in Richmond Hill is a little too much to handle. We are a one car family with a 2 1/2 yr old attending daycare. So this makes it difficult. We and many other commuters would like this to end soon, as this is really frustrating. I wish I could ask for 22.2% raise over 3 yrs. I am just thankful for having a job in this economy. I also really do not remember even the TTC striking for this long, as well I think all Transit systems should be essential service just like in Montreal.

Just a very frustrated and angry tax paying communter.

Greg
said
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Unions once had a time and a place but no more. What they are doing to the general public makes me sick. It's time that these people get striked out of a job. Sorry I don't feel sorry for them when they say they are having hard times since they are on strike. Go back to work.

Henry Byrne
said
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PLEASE PLEASE OH SANTA PLEASE BRING ME MY BUS ROUTE BACK FOR CHRISTMAS!! (and coal for all union workers!)

Robert
said
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Public Unions are akin to Monopolies - aren't monopolies supposed to be illegal in Canada?

Monopolies tend to stifle innovation and creativity. They tend to make people complacent and slothful. They also cause a feeling of entitlement.

Gee that doesn't sound like public sector unions does it?

Our politicians need to do a better job of reining in these unions before they bankrupt Canada like they do other countries.

Just because a union wants something does NOT mean they should get it!

The Artful Codger
said
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The old gap in wages with Greater Toronto again. That old chestnut is getting tiresome. I think every municipality in Ontario starts off looking for parity with Toronto. In the meantime once again the private sector is held at ransom by a rogue irresponsible public sector union.

Brian Burch
said
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This is a private sector strike, not a strike against public transit. It is a strike by two union locals against 3 private companies. York Region Transit has contracted out to private for-profit companies the operation of most transit services in the region. The per rider subsidy York Region pays is higher than that paid in Toronto for TTC services---i.e. it is more expensive for York Region to provide transit services than the cost of the TTC to residents of Toronto. ATU has offered to return to work and send outstanding matters to binding arbitration, which their employers oppose.

Mike
said
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Brian,

comparisons by cost of rider are not reasonable. More fair would be cost per rider of bus.

TTC moves a huge amount of people through subway which is a more cost efficient means of operating (one driver for ~10 cars versus 1 for 1. They also offset a lot of the infrastructure cost off to the provincial government so it seems like the tunnels are cheap but it is just that they are being amortized over a huge number of years and another level of government is footing the bill.

YRT has newer buses (quicker growth or they replace them more frequently? not sure) and I suspect the average bus rider (not subway) in York is traveling a farther distance than the average in Toronto (at least the people I know will take the subway as close as they can and then just do the last hop on foot or bus versus Vaughan to York U for YRT people. So newer equipment and longer rides I think (as well as less full buses).