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As Monday strike deadline looms, leaders of union are to meet with provincial mediator today

Mar 27, 2008 04:30 AM
Paul Moloney
Vanessa Lu
City hall bureau

TTC operators could launch a work-to-rule campaign, slowing service before going to a full-blown strike, says union president Bob Kinnear.

"We are leaving all options open to us," he said. "Withdrawal of our service would be a last resort."

The members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 will be in a legal strike position at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. About 1.5 million people ride the TTC on weekdays.

Work-to-rule could mean not wearing uniforms, not collecting fares and adhering to all safety checks.

Bus scheduling almost requires drivers to speed, Kinnear said. "We will adhere to all the Highway Traffic Act (regulations) and all the signage. That is one of the options, and there's no doubt that would slow down service."

The union walked away from bargaining on Monday on the "deal breaker" issue of compensation for job-related injuries. But union negotiators are to meet with a provincial mediator this morning.

"Hopefully, it's a positive conversation that we have with him," Kinnear said yesterday. "I can only assume that he would be meeting with the TTC after that, and hopefully be able to build a bridge back to the bargaining table."

At Queen's Park yesterday, Labour Minister Brad Duguid would not say if the Liberal government is preparing legislation that would force TTC workers back to work if they do strike, although a senior government source did not deny such legislation is possible.

The Conservatives said the Liberals would be foolish not to have legislation ready to go. "This is a critically important part of the economy in the GTA and you certainly can't allow it to be out of service for any extended period of time," said Bob Runciman, the party's interim leader in the Legislature.

Duguid said the government would not consider legislating the TTC as an essential service, barring the right of workers to strike.

TTC chair Adam Giambrone refused to speculate on a strike.

"We're hopeful that a provincial mediator will help us get back to the bargaining table," he said. "We're going to do our best to get a deal."

However, Kinnear has said it's unlikely the mediator will be able to resolve the issue of injury compensation. Workers who take short-term leave following a job-related injury lose 25 per cent of their pay. If they qualify for workers' compensation, they still lose 15 per cent. Kinnear said that's an injustice when city workers and TTC management get 100 per cent of their pay if they're sick or injured.

While public attention has been focused on the TTC's biggest union, another group of transit workers is holding a strike vote tonight.

About 500 signal, electrical and communication workers, members of CUPE Local 2, say the TTC has failed to make a contract offer even though their current agreement expires Tuesday.

With files from Rob Ferguson and Tess Kalinowski