York Region Transit Strike Update: ATU 113 to consider new proposal from Viva; demands retraction from Regional Chairman for "false and misleading" ads

DOWNSVIEW, ON, Dec. 21, 2011 /CNW/ - Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 will consider a new proposal received late yesterday from Viva to end the strike of its 220 workers in York Region.

"The bargaining committee will be taking a close look at Veolia's proposal as soon as possible and will decide whether to respond with a counter proposal or take it directly to the membership," says Bob Kinnear, president of the local.

Kinnear says Local 113 will also be watching what happens in negotiations today between ATU Local 1587 and its employers, Miller Transit and First Student.

"The three contractors are definitely talking with one another so it should be no surprise that the unions are talking as well. We're in this together even though there are three different contracts."

At the same time, the union is demanding that Regional Chairman Bill Fisch publicly retract recent newspaper advertisements that claimed the union's wage demands would add 45 cents to York Region Transit fares or cause property taxes to rise by $26 per year per household.

"Chairman Fisch knows very well that Local 113's last proposal to Viva on December 10th would have minimal impact on York Region transit costs," says Kinnear.

"If Viva had accepted our offer, instead of just walking away from the table without a response, and if that offer were applied to all three groups, it would add about a nickel a ride per year over the next three years.

"That's half the cost of the TTC fare increase of ten cents a ride over the same period."

"The York Region ads were deliberately false and misleading, designed to portray the union as unreasonable," says Kinnear.

"Chairman Fisch has broken his initial promise to stay out of this dispute more times than can be counted. He is clearly on the side of the private multinational contractors."

Kinnear noted that the York Region ads do not mention the profits of these private contractors, which would apparently remain untouched by any settlement.

"The ads infer that York Region riders and taxpayers would pay the full cost of any settlement. I think the residents have to question whether this privatized system is working for them if the contractors' profits are fully protected by the Region.

"Where is all the money going?"

The union will not be publicly discussing the offer until a decision has been made about taking it to the membership.

For further information:

Bill Reno, 416-223-7366