York region Transit workers unanimously refuse to even vote on Viva's latest proposal; Regional Chairman Bill Fisch slammed as cause of lengthy strike.
DOWNSVIEW, ON, Dec. 23, 2011 /CNW/ - It was standing room only this morning at the Monte Carlo Inn in Vaughan as virtually all 220 members of ATU Local 113 on strike against Viva met to consider the company's latest proposal to end the York Region transit strike.
Shouts of "No deal! No deal!" shook the room as local president Bob Kinnear read out the company's proposal for a four-year collective agreement with wage increases of 3%, 2%, 3.1% and 2.7%.
A motion from the floor to "not even vote on this piece of crap" was met with loud cheers and a unanimous show of hands.
"Let's send this back to (York Regional Chairman) Fisch with our compliments of the season," yelled out one member to general laughter. Fisch has opposed neutral arbitration as a way of ending the strike since the union first proposed it in the second week of the strike.
The members chanted "113!, 113!, 113!" as they left the room in a jubilant mood.
"It was an awesome display of solidarity and resolve, especially coming two days before Christmas," said Kinnear. "All they want is a fair deal and they will settle for nothing less."
The most contentious issue was the cost of the health care benefits package, which is currently split 50-50 between employer and employee. The union is seeking a three-year deal with the employer picking up the entire cost of the health care package by the third year. Veolia's proposal was to increase their portion of the current cost of benefits to 75% by the fourth year. Any increases in the cost of the benefits package over the next four years would be split 50-50 between the employer and workers.
"The benefits proposal infuriated the members," said Kinnear. "It is common knowledge that there is a big increase coming in health care benefits costs from the insurer once the strike is settled. The way the company's proposal is worded, members would end up paying more for their benefits than they do now. That's not going to happen."
Kinnear said the bargaining committee would meet soon to consider the union's next move.
"Our offer to arbitrate an immediate end to this strike still stands," he said. "Since Fisch seems stuck in the mud of his ego on this question, it's time other York Region councillors got a little backbone and stood up to him. How is it that someone who is not elected by York Region residents can prevent a rational resolution to this situation?"
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