Tentative settlement in York Region Viva bus strike; ratification vote on Thursday

TORONTO, Jan. 24, 2012 /CNW/ - Three months to the day after the strike began, a tentative settlement to end the Viva bus strike in York Region was reached earlier this evening between Local 113 of the Amalgamated Transit Union and Veolia Transportation, which operates the Viva bus service under contract to York Region Transit.

The settlement is subject to secret ballot ratification by the 220 members of Local 113 who work for Viva. A membership meeting to discuss the tentative settlement and conduct the ratification vote will be held this Thursday morning. The Local 113 bargaining committee is recommending the settlement to the members.

No details of the tentative settlement will be released until the ratification vote has been held. If the settlement is ratified, Viva bus service will resume in accordance with a schedule determined by Veolia.

"The residents of York Region can thank Chairman Bill Fisch for the length of this strike, as he inexplicably refused to even ask the private contractors to take the dispute to arbitration," said Bob Kinnear, president of ATU Local 113.

"This strike would have been ancient history by now if Fisch had not let his fantasies that the workers would cave in easily get in the way of a common-sense solution.

"With the early termination of the First Student contract, we now know he had the contractual authority to direct the private contractors to arbitrate our differences. York Region residents and taxpayers should be demanding an explanation of what Fisch thinks was gained by his refusal to exercise this authority three months ago."

Kinnear will be available for interviews after the ratification meeting at the Monte Carlo Inn in Vaughan on Thursday. The meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m. with results of the vote expected mid-afternoon.

This tentative settlement is not tied to negotiations between ATU Local 1587 and Miller Transit and First Student.

Bill Reno, 416-223-7366.