By Staff
July 6, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
In a surprisingly short media release the city announced that Burlington Transit workers, represented by CUPE Local 2723, Sunday night turned down a negotiated settlement reached by the union and the City of Burlington on June 30 and recommended to the members.
Transit wil continue to operate while both sides return to the bargaining table.
Negotiations will continue, said the city and transit services will operate as usual at this time.
In its statement the union said:
“Our members have spoken and indicated the contract offer before them did not go far enough to address their concerns,” said Dean Mainville, CUPE national representative for CUPE 2723. “We are calling on the city to resume discussions with us and explore ways to overcome this impasse.”
“We have reached out to management and asked them to return to bargaining in an effort to work out an agreement that will be acceptable to members, and prevent a service disruption that will affect transit users,” added Mainville.
CUPE 2723 represents 130 transit workers, including drivers and mechanics.
On its website the city said: “We hope the union does not choose to withdraw its services, but if they do initiate a strike, we intend to do the best we can to meet our obligations to the residents of the city and our other non-striking employees.
During a strike, unionized staff will picket in certain locations near city facilities. It is legal to picket and to attempt to persuade third parties to support a strike.
It is also legal for non-striking employees and customers to cross a picket line, to report to work or conduct business with the city.
The rights of both parties should be respected. In a strike situation, local police work with the striking workers to determine a reasonable arrangement that allows the striking workers to temporarily delay the entry of vehicles. We anticipate responsible, respectful behaviour from members of CUPE Local 2723.
Should you attempt to come to a city building and you are unreasonably delayed or prevented from conducting city business as a result of picket line activity, please speak with one of the city’s picket line monitors (wearing an orange vest) or call Service Burlington at 905-335-7803.
Susan,
Happy to read the transit workers have ratified the agreement with the city. Hopefully it won’t cost the tax payers dearly.
I can agree to disagree however, when stating assumptions about city staff disdain and my opinions on unions, facts are usually required for a credible opinion.
Then why wouldn’t anyone walk up and edit the HSR bus out, good question.
Editor’s note – It was meant to be a picture of the terminal – not the bus – what difference would a Burlington Transit bus have made to the story.
There does seem to be an attitude of “I’m okay so I don’t care what happens to my neighbours or anyone else.”
“Endure a loss of service”?? There are some employees that could lose their jobs unless they show up for work, on time, every day. Is it okay if they endure a loss of their jobs?
There are some people who need help daily just to get dressed in the morning and are not costing us money by putting them in “a home”. Is it okay for them to endure an extended period of time in bed because their personal support worker can’t get to them.
Some people need the help of a personal support worker at home in order for them to leave the hospital earlier. Is it okay for our hospital to have to keep people longer than necessary due to lack of home care?
Interesting!
Susan,
All good reasons for the transit workers to consider as they vote for a second time on a negotiated deal recommended by their union.
Hello John or whomever you are,
I am aware that some people think the bus drivers and the mechanics should put the needs of the transit passengers before their own needs. They have been doing this for years and they keep falling further behind. (Bear in mind that some of the drivers voting, are making $12.48 per hour.)
I don’t believe it should the union who make all the concessions every time this comes up. The bus drivers and mechanics are working for a living, they are not paid volunteers. I believe it’s the unelected City Staff that should consider the needs of the public ahead of their own disdain of public transit. It’s the City staff who are paid to look after City Services, not the mechanics or the drivers.
Whenever I come across the same old knee jerk, anti-union rhetoric, (all unions are bad, end of discussion) I feel it’s only fair that someone should look at the other side of the story. I don’t believe the articles written on this subject have been at all well balanced or unbiased.
I’ve done what I thought was right and I know I’ll never change your mind so, let’s agree to disagree.
Now that’s a funny picture, an HSR bus. Nice job Editor
Editors note: Folks get a grip – there are four buses in the picture. The location is the Burlington terminal on John Street where Hamilton buses pull in.
Interesting !
Our transit workers don’t agree with the offer from the city however, their union by recommending it does.
Difficult to consider the workers position when their own negotiators don’t agree with them.
Time for the city and it’s residence to endure a loss of service and ultimately stop this nonsense.
Why use the photo of a Hamilton bus to illustrate a Burlington news article? The Hamilton 11 Parkdale route runs to the Burlington terminal downtown so the picture was taken in Burlington of a Hamilton bus.