Hamilton’s bus workers in favour of strike should new agreement not be reached – Hamilton | 24CA News
The union representing Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) staff says 99 per cent of its members are in favour of a strike ought to a deal not be reached with the City of Hamilton within the newest labour talks.
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 107 says the turnout for Thursday evening’s vote was the best seen in a while and president Eric Tuck says the choice permits the bargaining group to enter the subsequent spherical with “more muscle.”
“So at this point, we have filed for a conciliation,” Tuck stated.
“We’re waiting for the labour board to appoint a conciliator. Once a conciliator has been appointed, both parties should be coming back together at the table.”
Tuck says his members are very offended that whereas the union was on the desk for six months attempting to get a deal, town was handing out giant wage hikes to directors.
The ATU represents some 850 HSR bus staff and has been working and not using a collective settlement since December 2022.
Wages, security and mild rail transit (LRT) job protections are the important thing points, with the union pointing to double-digit will increase it says senior metropolis directors just lately acquired from town.
Tuck says the union and town have accomplished 23 days of negotiations with “little success, so far.”
Meanwhile, the City of Hamilton’s director of worker well being and labour relations says he’s “looking forward” to working with a conciliator to “make further progress in negotiations.”
“The city remains committed to continuing to meet with the ATU Local 107 negotiation committee, with a view of negotiating a renewed collective agreement that is fair for workers and fair for taxpayers,” Yakov Sluchenkov stated.
Sluchenkov was unable to offer additional particulars because of the “active and ongoing” negotiations.
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