YRT dodges another strike

Dena Winick
Contributor
York region narrowly avoided the possibility of yet another strike Feb. 21 as the York Region Transit (YRT) union proposed a strike for the second time.
The YRT union Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) was unhappy with the tentative agreements decided upon Feb. 13.
The tentative deal offered an annual tool allowance for maintenance workers, four paid sick days a year, health insurance, and a raise of over 10-and-a-half percent over the next four years.
Although a negotiation has been made, ATU Local 113 is still able to legally strike against Veolia Transportation. ATU president Bob Kinnear insisted that all YRT workers show up for work Feb. 22, and decided the contract will be up for a re-vote.
“This is an unusual situation,” wrote Kinnear in a prepared statement Feb. 21. “But in view of the stakes for both our members and the public, and the large majority of members who signed the petition, we will conduct a re-vote on the settlement.”
In the meantime, contract negotiators from the ATU are also working to finalize an agreement to ensure that the 28,000 riders will have secure modes of transportation.
With files from The Globe and Mail