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Provincial official unlikely to resolve issue of compensation for injured workers, Kinnear says

Mar 26, 2008 04:30 AM
Tess Kalinowski
Transportation Reporter

Transit union head Bob Kinnear is not optimistic a meeting with a provincial mediator tomorrow will kick-start talks with the TTC.

It's unlikely the mediator will be able to resolve the issue of compensation for workers injured on the job – the deal-breaker that caused the union to walk away from bargaining Monday, he told the Star.

Workers who take short-term leave following a job-related injury now lose 25 per cent of their pay. If they qualify for workers' compensation, they still lose 15 per cent, said Kinnear.

"We feel that it is completely justifiable that when we have members that are being punched, kicked and spat upon, that there is no financial penalty to them," he said.

City workers and TTC management get 100 per cent of their pay if they're sick or injured on the job.

But Kinnear said the union is "trying to do everything to avoid a strike," because his 8,900 members don't want to compound the frustration of riders already fed up with overcrowding and poor service.

Kinnear said the TTC and city are deflecting attention from their inability to pry funds out of the province. Referring to the system's low operating subsidy of 25 per cent, he said, "The TTC is the most financially responsible transit system in North America. Those efficiencies are provided by our members."

Mayor David Miller prodded both sides to resume talks. Asked if he would try to broker a deal, he replied: "The TTC is an arm's-length agency. The negotiations are with the TTC."

TTC operators make about $50,000 a year.

If the two sides resume bargaining and talks progress, the union would be willing to continue negotiations beyond Monday night's legal strike deadline, Kinnear said.

With files from Jim Byers