Commuters across much of Southern Ontario may be struggling to find alternative modes of transportation after the union representing 2,200 GO Transit workers announced its members will be quitting their jobs beginning Monday morning.
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587 released a statement Sunday that it was unable to secure a new deal with Metrolinx, the regional transit service operator that covers much of the Greater Toronto and Golden Horseshoe areas. runs at 00:01 from Monday. According to Metrolinx, bus services will be suspended due to the strike, although trains will continue and stations will be open.
Rob Cormier, President of ATU Local 1587, said collective bargaining had collapsed over safety concerns related to hiring contract workers from outside companies. The union statement reads: "Protections against outsourcing are essential to ensure that experienced workers are on the job safely and efficiently running GO Transit.
Without this protection, Metrolinx can hire outside companies that hire inexperienced workers in precarious, non-union positions. Metrolinx released a statement saying the union withdrew from negotiations over the weekend and rejected a request to return to the negotiating table on Monday.
Anne Marie Aikins, the company's head of media and public relations, said the transport company was optimistic about signing a new contract after proposing dozens of "improvements" to the collective agreement. Aikins acknowledged ATU's concerns about hiring outside workers. , but claimed that the company had taken measures to ensure everyone's safety.
For 22 years we have had an agreement that protects the job security of our ATU employees," said. The protection will continue to protect existing employees as well as new employees coming to Metrolinx. Aikins urged customers to plan ahead, allow extra time for commuting and keep up to date with strike developments through GO Transit's website and social media accounts.
ATU has said that negotiations with Metrolinx started in April and that the members have been working without a contract since June 1st. He said 81 percent of members voted against a contract offer from Metrolinx, a move Aikins previously described as disappointing.
She said Sunday the company "remains open to discuss further avenues with the union." The strike at GO Transit comes three days after thousands of Ontario education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees indefinitely quit the job at. ATU has said it supports these workers.