Thu Nov. 17 2011 5:55:52 PM | cp24.com
Striking YRT workers rally outside council meeting
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Striking York Region Transit workers attend a rally in Newmarket on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011.
Hundreds of striking York Region Transit bus drivers and mechanics held a rally Thursday morning as a way to stimulate contract talks, nearly a month after they walked off the job.
About 300 workers picketed outside a York Region council meeting in Newmarket, a day after they walked the picket line outside a YRT garage, to demand council members to put pressure on Miller Transit and First Canada to return to the bargaining table.
Larry Hanley, the international president of the 185,000-member Amalgamated Transit Union, spoke at the event.
"I am here because our workers throughout Canada and the United States are deeply concerned," Hanley told CP24. "These workers are up against a multinational company that is victimizing workers all around the globe and we want to investigate and find out why the government in York Region is not acting and is not dealing with the fact that their workers are being mistreated and paid lower wages than others that do the same work elsewhere."
During the rally, the union called on York Region council members to pressure the workers' employers to return to resume contract talks to end to the labour dispute.
Some union leaders told CP24 they are open to discussing the idea of having YRT declared an essential service. They said they would be open to negotiating a long-term, locked-in contract to avoid work stoppages in the future. That would also help secure their positions if the city ever toyed with the idea of privatizing transit in the area.
Nonetheless, the ATU is formally opposed to being declared an essential service. If the YRT became an essential service like the Toronto Transit Commission, its workers would lose their right to strike.
Workers want more pay
The main sticking point is the workers' pay. YRT drivers earn an average of $20 per hour, and they want to be paid the same as their counterparts in Toronto, Hamilton, Brampton and Mississauga, where drivers are paid an average of $29.
For many striking workers, Thursday was the first day they had received a paycheque since the strike began with the unions givingemployees half of their usual pay. York Region has saved about $1.6 million so far in unpaid wages.
The rally was held after council revealed the employees' unions are apparently asking for a 20 per cent pay hike over three years, calling it an unrealistic demand in the current economic climate.
The unions representing the workers want the dispute to be settled by arbitration.
Hanley said if that doesn't happen, his union will be there to provide financial assistance.
Alastair Sutta, a striking YRT driver, said he just wants fair compensation.
"We understand we are not the Toronto Transit Commision, but you can compare us to Durham, Brampton Mississauga or Hamilton," he said. "We feel we should be paid equally or at least close to some sort of parity with them."
Bob Kinnear, president of ATU Local 113, told CP24 the two sides are to far apart to make returning to the table worthwhile. He said he was "cautiously optimistic" council would step in, after Thursday's meeting was taken in camera.
"The fact that regional council will at least discuss this behind closed doors is encouraging," he said.
Strike now in fourth week
Bus drivers and mechanics walked off the job Oct. 24, halting service to 85 routes, or about 60 per cent of the region's routes.
Commuters who rely on buses in YRT's southeast and north divisions, and five Viva express routes have had to find alternate ways to get around - from cab rides and carpools to walking and bumming rides off family or friends.
YRT contracts Miller Transit to provide service to 51 bus routes in the southeast division, which covers Markham, Richmond Hill, Whitchurch-Stouffville and part of Vaughan.
First Canada has a contract to provide bus service for 29 routes in Newmarket, Aurora and parts of Richmond Hill, East Gwillimbury and Georgina.
About 340 employees in the southeast and north divisions are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587, while about 220 Viva employees are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113.
The last time a transit strike occurred in York Region was in 2008, when drivers walked the picket lines for two weeks.
With files from George Lagogianes
Comments are now closed for this story
November 17, 2011 at 9:45:34 AM
Steve
So in Toronto, TTC is declared an essential service, but residences of York Region have no such options... Seems unfair.
The level of traffic in Richmond Hill has grown noticably since the start of the strike - so it has many impacts on those of us who live there, including increased travel time, pollution, and noise.
Time to get it settled - arbitration is the only way to bring it to closure short of unlikely parliamentary action.
Maybe all transit agreements should be settled by final-offer selection which forces both sides to be reasonable in their proposals!
Cheers!
S
November 17, 2011 at 12:00:14 PM
Brian
In 2000 I believe it was Calgary was off the job for 45 days, traffic was up as to be expected. When transit went back to work it took years to get ridership back up. When people had to pay for to use there cars they realized that it was more convenient. The transit in Calgary still suffers because the ridership in some parts of the city are so low because when ridership went down they cut service. Now some routes DO NOT connect to the C-train and they run every 45 minutes leaving sometimes 5 minutes before a train is due in. I fear York region will suffer similarly the longer this strike lasts
November 17, 2011 at 12:26:39 PM
Mary
Im finding hard to understand how York Region can let these Companies not to agree with an arbitrator. People are suffering everyday, however Council only seems to care how much to pay themselves every year. Why do these international companies have control. Who the hell is running the region anyways. The drivers will go back to work tomorrow!!!!!! Lets go council!!!!!
November 17, 2011 at 12:31:39 PM
moxy
Why are they rallying outside a council meeting? Do they who know who their employers are? It's definitely not the government.
November 17, 2011 at 12:46:56 PM
Peter
Me and my family dont have car, we depend on public transit. Me and my waife take bus go to work and my daughter take the bus go to school.No body care about us including politicians. some times i got the taxi and few times co wokers drop off me, it is verry hard to manage!
November 17, 2011 at 1:13:01 PM
pinstress
To Mary and Moxy, the union(s) asked Council to get involved because the companies contracted by York Region and York Region itself will not consider their contract renewal requests. These drivers do not enjoy being on strike. They want to be back to work but they also want what they should have had long ago, were even promised in some cases ... decent wages reflective of what their peers in other cities and regions earn, plus proper sick days and pension plans among other things. Moxy, York Region contracted your bus services out to these companies and York Region says what to do when to do it and how plus how much they get for it.
November 17, 2011 at 1:33:34 PM
Steve
It amazes me that these drivers were okay with the $20/hr wage they agreed to when they were hired, but suddenly it's not good enough?? If you want to get $29/hr, then you should apply for a job in a region that pays that amount.
I'm all for standard of living raises, but this seems a bit unrealistic. I'm sure YRT could find many people willing to work for $20/hr in these economic times.
November 17, 2011 at 1:57:43 PM
Nicole
I am so thankful that I got my car last year becuse I would have lost my job by now. There is zero transit between Newmarket and Richmond Hill which means good luck in getting to work or anywhere else.
The Go Bus doesn't handle Yonge Street anymore. I feel sorry for anyone that needs to get to court in Newmarket right now because the courts don't care about no transit.
Get back to work and make them an essential service.
November 17, 2011 at 2:23:46 PM
Toronto man
We don't know whom to blame.
But there are many less income people depend on the buses.
If they miss one day, they will get into big trouble to pay the bills.
Overall it seems that the unfair system is the main reason for all the mess.
November 17, 2011 at 3:31:22 PM
joe paincotta
I go to york university and it is very hard for me to get to classes on time. so please go back to work , I need to get my education , my mom won't let me drive the car so I have to use the bus to go to my classes .
November 17, 2011 at 3:33:52 PM
Sunjay Ruspuri
Why isn't anyone doing anything about the strike ? It has been 3-4 weeks already and you guys still have not done a darn thing ? Next time I won't vote Liberal if this is how they work. Sorry but you guys have lost my vote.
November 17, 2011 at 3:35:44 PM
Jessica Orlyfied
I have to go to school and I take the bus.I have to wake up super early and go to school an hour early because I live so far way. This is enough !Do something !
November 17, 2011 at 3:40:02 PM
Herman Masterfiled
hey hey what is being done about the strike ? them bus drivers want more money ? like what 50 cent rasie ? all this for a small raise ? wowzza . I use the bus all the time and it aint fair how I got to catch a ride with my mother who works very hard to raise our family.I seem them bus driver with iphones and blackberries and they say they want more money ? I saw a lady bus driver with a coach purse , so they must be making some decent income. None of you are struggling if you can afford those things , so why the movement ?
November 17, 2011 at 3:43:21 PM
susie man
I live in the farther part of Toronto and I use the bus daily , so please help fix this. I cannot afford to miss my classes , my grades will get effected then.
November 17, 2011 at 3:48:49 PM
Tommy Salavoroz
They are fighting for 9 more dollars ? The drivers there are dealing with more people and a bigger area , thats why they are getting paid 29 dollars . The drivers in York region don't have as many people as Toronto but they still have a significant amount of people in York region who use the public transportation . This is all because of the stupid labour strike that happned in September! I guess thats what has influenced these people to fight for their measly 9 dollar diffrence.