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
