“My concept is that they need to punish ATU members financially for going out on strike”
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Union management for placing GO Transit staff have accused Metrolinx of forcing its staff onto the picket line by way of dangerous religion bargaining.
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John Di Nino, president of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Canada, mentioned the two,200 Native 1587 members are ready to strike so long as vital and cautioned Metrolinx of a powerful response if it brings in alternative labour.
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“Our members are hunkered in to maintain manning these picket strains,” Di Nino mentioned Wednesday. “We need to make it clear — and this can be a message to the Doug Ford authorities … we simply noticed the combat with CUPE. We may have tens of 1000’s of labour associates on the bottom if they create scab staff into the ATU and attempt to take over our work.”
ATU Worldwide vice-president Manny Sforza, who has been on the bargaining desk with Metrolinx for seven months, mentioned they’d be submitting a grievance with the Ministry of Labour for unfair bargaining.
Sforza accused the transit company of delaying a decision that was inside straightforward attain and pushing aside extra bargaining till Friday though the union was ready to fulfill all through the week.
“My concept is that they need to punish ATU members financially for going out on strike. There’s no different cause why we didn’t meet Monday and why we didn’t finish a strike that ought to have by no means occurred,” he mentioned. “On the finish of the day, we will affirm this was intentional and that that is dangerous religion bargaining. What else is that this delay to be thought of apart from dangerous religion bargaining?”
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The ATU leaders mentioned Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney and Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster have been absent in negotiations.
“(Mulroney) has did not make suggestions, to return to the desk, as has Doug Ford,” Di Nino mentioned.
In response to the ATU, a deal was shut on three excellent points: Contracting out, half-time pay and the hiring of full-time staff.
A response from Metrolinx wasn’t instantly obtainable Wednesday however the company has mentioned that it continues to barter with the ATU in good religion and views a strike as pointless and avoidable.
Mulroney, with Ford Wednesday to announce shovels within the floor for the Bradford Bypass freeway undertaking, mentioned the 2 sides have had 20 days of bargaining since April.
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“Sadly, they voted in favour of going out on strike this week,” she mentioned. “We need to be sure that Metrolinx is ready to attain an settlement quickly with the ATU so we will get transit riders driving GO buses once more.”
Ford mentioned he has not been concerned within the negotiations.
“I had my palms full with CUPE,” Ford mentioned, referring to the schooling staff dispute that shut down many colleges to in-person studying for 2 days. “I’ve all the arrogance on this planet in Minister Mulroney and the CEO, Phil Verster, and hopefully they will come to the desk and provide you with a compromise.”
aartuso@postmedia.com