Stalled bargaining between the city and transit union may lead to a strike vote, says a union leader.
Amalgamated Transit Union president Charlie Brown said his members have been without a contract since June 30, 2009. After 16 meetings with the city, Brown said talks have gone nowhere and he has filed for conciliation with the Ontario Labour Board Monday.
"Most people don’t realize that bargaining with the City of Thunder Bay is like bargaining with the biggest bully in town," Brown said. "Unfortunately we might be in a position very soon that I’ll have to call for a strike vote with my members in the next couple weeks to a month."
Brown said the city is requesting concessions in benefits packages and a number of issues relating to working conditions that would be "detrimental" to his members. Issues relating to salaries haven’t even been discussed yet, Brown said.
"Basically they want, they want, they want and they’re not prepared to bargain or give or negotiate anything in return and that’s just not acceptable," Brown said.
One major issue is the way the city enters into bargaining. Instead of dealing with city managers, he said the city will send people who aren’t authorized to make decisions when the union tries to bargain. Brown added that it’s unfortunate the city won’t negotiate even though the ATU will.
"The people making the decisions pulling the strings are sitting in their offices or they’re sitting up at city hall, including the politicians who know exactly what’s going on and unfortunately they let someone else handle it and they play like they can’t get involved," Brown said.
Brown sent a letter to members of council and administration over a month ago stating that he would file for conciliation if he hadn’t heard back from anyone.
"I’ve heard absolutely nothing and they know what the position is," Brown said. "So we’ve gone to conciliation so this is the next step."
A provincially designated conciliator will review the contract talks and try to reach an agreement in the next month, Brown said. If both sides don’t agree with the decision, lockouts, strikes and other actions are possible.
Brown said he’s not optimistic that an agreement can be reached and thinks his members will vote in favour of a strike.
Speaking on behalf of city manager Tim Commisso, city labour relations specialist Terry O’Neill would only confirm that the ATU has filed for conciliation and that the city is waiting for the Ministry of Labour to appoint a conciliator.
"Other than that I’m not prepared to comment any further," O’Neill said.
Amalgamated Transit Union president Charlie Brown said his members have been without a contract since June 30, 2009. After 16 meetings with the city, Brown said talks have gone nowhere and he has filed for conciliation with the Ontario Labour Board Monday.
"Most people don’t realize that bargaining with the City of Thunder Bay is like bargaining with the biggest bully in town," Brown said. "Unfortunately we might be in a position very soon that I’ll have to call for a strike vote with my members in the next couple weeks to a month."
Brown said the city is requesting concessions in benefits packages and a number of issues relating to working conditions that would be "detrimental" to his members. Issues relating to salaries haven’t even been discussed yet, Brown said.
"Basically they want, they want, they want and they’re not prepared to bargain or give or negotiate anything in return and that’s just not acceptable," Brown said.
One major issue is the way the city enters into bargaining. Instead of dealing with city managers, he said the city will send people who aren’t authorized to make decisions when the union tries to bargain. Brown added that it’s unfortunate the city won’t negotiate even though the ATU will.
"The people making the decisions pulling the strings are sitting in their offices or they’re sitting up at city hall, including the politicians who know exactly what’s going on and unfortunately they let someone else handle it and they play like they can’t get involved," Brown said.
Brown sent a letter to members of council and administration over a month ago stating that he would file for conciliation if he hadn’t heard back from anyone.
"I’ve heard absolutely nothing and they know what the position is," Brown said. "So we’ve gone to conciliation so this is the next step."
A provincially designated conciliator will review the contract talks and try to reach an agreement in the next month, Brown said. If both sides don’t agree with the decision, lockouts, strikes and other actions are possible.
Brown said he’s not optimistic that an agreement can be reached and thinks his members will vote in favour of a strike.
Speaking on behalf of city manager Tim Commisso, city labour relations specialist Terry O’Neill would only confirm that the ATU has filed for conciliation and that the city is waiting for the Ministry of Labour to appoint a conciliator.
"Other than that I’m not prepared to comment any further," O’Neill said.
