Contract talks between Metrobus and members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 1462 have reached an impasse, meaning Metrobus drivers and maintenance workers could go on strike Oct. 5.
Their collective agreement expired May 31, 2019. The union and Metrobus have been in conciliation since earlier this year, but the process has reached a “sticking point” over an enhancement to benefits, said Coun. Dave Lane, who is a city council representative on the St. John’s Transportation Commission which runs Metrobus.
“I feel that there is still some wiggle room, and it’s worth discussing before we have a strike." — Coun. Dave Lane
Local 1462 union president Paul Churchill said they were offered the same deal that was struck with some city workers last year in terms of no pay increases, but he said if the city and Metrobus want to offer the same deal that city workers have, then it should also include the same benefits in terms of sick leave, holidays and health and drug coverage.
Churchill said the ATU is recommending not accepting an offer that doesn’t include those benefits. He’ll be meeting with workers this week, and he said if they reject the offer then they will strike on Oct. 5.
Churchill said he hopes the public understands that if they strike, it’s because it’s something they have to do to be treated fairly.
He said bus drivers and maintenance workers have been providing an essential service throughout the pandemic. He said they don’t want to suspend bus service because transit users are their neighbours — they pick them up for work every day, and bring them to appointments, but he hopes transit users will support workers if they do strike.
Meanwhile, Lane said the city is not in a position to enhance benefits, but they’re working on other offers that might be able to fulfill what workers are hoping to achieve with the benefit.
“I feel that there is still some wiggle room, and it’s worth discussing before we have a strike,” said Lane. He said he’s hopeful it won’t come to a strike.
Lane said Metrobus employees are “compensated well,” and the offer being made to them is “fair and consistent with the offer accepted by other city unions.”
Councillor Dave Lane announces discussions between Metrobus and the union representing drivers & maintenance employees have reached an impasse.
— City of St. John's (@CityofStJohns) September 22, 2020
Both sides have been working with a conciliator but have not been able to reach a new collective agreement.
➡️ https://t.co/c8kxXXz95q pic.twitter.com/Wg149NR39D
Regarding benefits, Lane said the city deals with a number of unions, and those agreements have been crafted over many years with each having a multitude of differences.
“We have to be careful that we’re not just picking one benefit and saying that this is unfair, whereas there’s another benefit that they might be doing better.”
For example, said Lane, the ATU has a better pension plan than the city unions.
“It’s not comparing apples to apples,” he said.
While Metrobus is a separate entity from the city run by the St. John’s Transportation Commission, it does receive a city subsidy.
Lane said the city is looking at a deficit of around $13-million in the 2021 budget, and this issue needs to be considered with that in mind.
He said Go Bus services will not be affected if Metrobus workers strike.
