Locking out transit drivers not in the cards even if union votes down city offer, mayor says

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This article was published 26/05/2019 (1943 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mayor Brian Bowman says a lockout of Winnipeg Transit drivers is not on the table, even if the union representing them doesn’t agree to the latest contract offer the city has sent its way.

“I’m pleased that we haven’t had any lockouts or strikes since I’ve been here. We’ve negotiated some very difficult collective agreements with a number of our different collective bargaining units,” Bowman said.

“It’s not something I’m contemplating. I can’t envision that we would lock out. Far too many people rely on transit every day… It’s such an important service to our citizens. We have to keep our city moving.”

However, later in the day, the city’s director of customer service and communications Felicia Wiltshire clarified that the city isn’t contemplating a lockout “at this time.”

“The city is still hopeful that the (Amalgamated Transit Union local 1505) will accept the final contract that they are voting on this week,” Wiltshire said in a written statement.

“A lockout is not something the city is contemplating at this time, as we do not want to see any form of labour disruption that would interrupt transit service for the 170,000 riders that depend on the service daily.”

The latest contract offer by the city has been characterized as its “final offer” and the administration has suggested a strike could occur at any time if it is rejected by the union this week.

ATU president Aleem Chaudhary said the results of the vote on the proposed contract should be known by Friday. He also said he believes the two sides remain far apart on contract talks.

“It’s going to come to a head. I think they’re going to have to realize, the workplace issues I’m talking about… the morale is so low down there and it’s not only because of the wages or benefits, it’s because of the treatment they get. There’s no respect given to them,” he said.

“We’re just wasting time not discussing the issues. At this point I would say no, we’re still a long ways away (on a deal). We need to work harder.”

Chaudhary also said the union is not considering a strike at this time, since it doesn’t want to inconvenience its ridership, adding if a strike action was called it would come as a “last resort.”

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe