News
Union rejects latest offer
Get out your mukluks and parkas — as winter arrives in London, there’s no end in sight for the bus strike.
The latest offer from the London Transit Commission was rejected by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 741 yesterday afternoon.
A total of 410 union members voted, with 78.5 per cent against LTC’s offer.
“It was basically the same contract that [the union] turned down in October,” Pat Hunniford, president of ATU Local 741, said.
The newest offer included a 9.3 per cent pay increase over three years and an increase in driver wages from $23.08 to $25.23 per hour.
A press release from the LTC stated this was their final offer.
Hunniford was not impressed with the offer, explaining many of the benefits previously agreed upon were taken out of the contract and were returned as wage increases.
“They basically put lipstick on a pig — it’s still a pig,” he noted.
The union plans to picket city hall this week in hopes of putting an end to the strike. According to Hunniford, city hall could order the LTC to accept arbitration.
Hunniford explained arbitration would also force the union back to work, as having an arbitrator obligates them to work under the old contract until a new one is reached.
“We’ve made it perfectly clear since June 1 [that arbitration] is the best way to resolve this,” Hunniford said.
While students continue to wait for a resolution to the strike, the University Students’ Council, is waiting for a refund.
According to Emily Rowe, USC president, LTC will reimburse 52 cents per student for each day of the strike. This amount will be returned directly to the USC 30 days after the end of the strike.
“As of now the community vans are provided by the University,” Rowe said. She added the Mustangs moving Mustangs program has incurred costs of about $1,000 to date.
David Winninger, chair of the LTC, was unable to be reached for comment at press time.
According to a press release by the LTC, no further talks have been scheduled.
7 Comments
What makes the union think that a bus driver is worth $25 per hour, benefits or otherwise? All of my sympathy for the drivers has been lost. They are grossly over-valuing their worth. Maybe the LTC should play “Dragon’s Den” and respond with a resounding “I’m out!”.
I think we as students should send a message to the LTC union and have an opt out if we dont need or use the bus. I have to drive in everyday and still my tution included the bus fees which I was fine with up untill this strike. I think that all students who dont need the bus passes should be able to request their money back, because we dont feel that the greedy union of the LTC deserve it anymore.
I think the students should try to be more understanding about this. If anyone took a moment to think about the other side of the issue, i.e. take into account that almost FOUR HUNDRED people have voted to be on strike during Christmas (probably being out in the cold on the picket line more than we are, walking to school), they might realize that there is more to this than the inconvenience we are suffering. It is extremely inconvenient, yes, but if you read this article, it looks like more than the Union can stop this strike from happening. i.e. The city can order the LTC to accept arbitration (which would bring in a neutral third party and dispense with the pathetic offers the LTC calls “negotiations” AND bring the workers back). And it hasn’t. So maybe that’s who we should be complaining to!
Also, the bus drivers put up with us when we’re drunk. They help blind people get to their destination. They often help elderly people carry their groceries on board. Our city can obviously not run without them, so maybe they are worth what they’re asking for.
The issue right now isn’t really the wages, anyways, it’s the benefits.
I second both of Kristine’s comments. The bus drivers provide an important and very valuable service to this city. It is NOT an easy job. They should be compensated accordingly.
Bullsh*t.
““They basically put lipstick on a pig — it’s still a pig,” he noted.”
at 23 dollars/hour, that isnt a pig anymore. Especially considering just how much theyre getting compensated other than just their salary
Do they realize what they are putting people in the city through? What they are being offered is more then fair in a time where people are happy to even have jobs.
Because of this strike I have to spend 12-16 hours a day on campus as it is the only way I can work my schedule so I can get a ride from my parents. Being about a 40-50 minute drive away means this is my only option.
In order to get around, my entire family has to alter their schedules so we are going into work/school at absurd hours in the morning and then staying late.
I know there are countless other students going through the same situation as me, and I honestly think the union doesn’t even care at all.