Wed Jan. 04 2012 2:06:50 PM | cp24.com
YRT employees forced to vote on contract offers
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Striking York Region Transit workers block vehicles from exiting a Veolia Environmental yard in Pickering on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011. (CP24/Cam Woolley)
There's a sign of some movement in the York Region Transit strike, as employees of two of the contractors involved are set to vote on contract offers.
Leaders of two Amalgamated Transit Union locals initially rejected putting the latest offers from Miller Transit and Veolia Transportation to their members for a vote, but a ruling by the Ontario Labour Relations Board is forcing the union locals to present the offer to striking employees.
Under the supervision of the OLRB, ATU Local 1587 employees, who are employed by Miller Transit, are expected to vote on their contract offer Friday, while members of ATU Local 113, who are employed by Veolia Transportation, are expected to vote next week.
Miller Transit and Veolia Transportation went to the OLRB and requested the supervised contract vote.
Miller Transit has sent letters to its employees to convince them to accept the latest offer.
Workers continue to picket
Meanwhile, striking workers continue to demonstrate in York Region as the strike nears its 11th week.
Members of ATU Local 1587 are picketing outside Miller Transportation's main yard on Woodbine Avenue on Wednesday. Strikers are holding up vehicles, including garbage trucks, as they exit the yard.
More than 550 YRT bus drivers and mechanics, employed by contractors Miller Transit, First Canada and Veolia Transportation, have been on strike since Oct. 24, shutting down about 60 per cent of the region's bus routes.
The strike is affecting more than 44,000 riders every day.
ATU Local 1587 represents about 340 employees in YRT's southeast and north divisions, while 220 Viva employees are represented by ATU Local 113.
With files from CP24's Cam Woolley
Comments are now closed for this story
January 04, 2012 at 8:08:58 AM
vetl
just keep them picketing a little more when the next mortgage payments will be due and they will vote for the contract for half of the money that they used to make. Don't forget to say "thank you" to your union after
January 04, 2012 at 8:23:28 AM
Dan in York
About time we see some real action on this ridiculous strike, 10 weeks and they are still no closer to a deal.
January 04, 2012 at 8:34:45 AM
Anne
So the fat cat Union Leaders were the ones rejecting the offers. Shouldn't they have asked their members to vote on every single offer? Or is that too democratic? Perhaps the members will now stop being sheep just doing what they are told by their leaders.
January 04, 2012 at 8:40:01 AM
Tyler
Let them stay picketing. They are finally getting some good weather to stand in. Maybe standing in the cold will make them realize there are people living in the cold because they cant find a job.
January 04, 2012 at 9:01:37 AM
Debbie
I was confronted with information pickets this morning and the paper they gave out was full on incorrect information. Stupid stupid
January 04, 2012 at 9:29:26 AM
KMC
If the drivers really believe in this cause, let them strike when it gets cold outside! I'm loving the fact that their unions have misled them, and controlled them for their own political agendas. Funny thing is, I bet when the drivers vote, they vote to go back to work (against what the unions are stating).
January 04, 2012 at 9:58:18 AM
Jordan
I feel the greatest failure of this entire strike is the inaction of everyone involved in restoring the service. Every Transit worker striking, the courts who don't intervene, MPPs who are standing sideline should all be ashamed that this pitiful strike has gone on so long. Not just that, but those who are picketing and rejecting offers should be made to pay fines that are used to lower bus fares for at least the next year as compensation to riders.
January 04, 2012 at 11:05:02 AM
Tj
Let them freeze their butt in the cold, they deserve that after all the inconvenience they caused their riders. Let them get a taste of their own medicine. I say no deal till after March break. This will teach them to not be sheep to their union leader Bob Kinnear who is getting his fat pay cheque thru the union dues of these guys, while these guys are picketing on a paltry strike pay. Ask Kinnear if he is earning strike pay right now or if he is earning his fat salary along with the rest of his union boss cronies. The only people who are being taken for a ride are the union worker's and the transit riders. The management and the union bosses are laughing all the way to the bank.
January 04, 2012 at 11:14:30 AM
Emily
As a 12 year user of YRT services, I can say that YRT is an awful service and they should be ashamed of the "service" they offer to citizens of York Region. Costs more than the TTC all while offering MUCH less. If you think you have problems on the TTC, try riding the YRT in the dead of winter. You'll be waiting at bus stops for over an hour and chances are you would have walked 20 minutes to get to that stop. I hope they lose some customers once service resumes so they can rethink their standards, priorities and awful service and routes.
January 04, 2012 at 11:44:47 AM
Kal
This has to go down in hisotry as the least effective strike ever "organized". Unfortunately, the party that is hurt the most is the group of commuters that are left stranded. Rest assured, this strike will not cultivate any support from the general public. Instead, it demonstrates how ineefective Union Leaders are in this entire process. Get back to work!!!
January 04, 2012 at 12:27:44 PM
Driver
This news story is pointless. The offers being voted on are the same ones turned down by the membership previously. Just a waste of time... the contracts will NOT be accepted.. just watch and see.
January 04, 2012 at 12:29:09 PM
Tom
And you know the information was incorrect how? By the propaganda that the Region of York has spewed out? Or by the mix and match of information put out by the media outlets? Take your pick!