TORONTO — A union representing GO Transit station attendants, maintenance workers, and bus drivers has voted to strike if it fails to reach agreement on a new contract.
The vote comes as the train and bus operator has said it will have to cancel some trains this week because of a worker shortage.
The CBC reports Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587, which represents about 2,200 workers, says 93% of its members voted in favor of the strike. Workers have been without a contract since June 1 and say GO Transit’s parent, provincial transit agency Metrolinx, has refused to negotiate on issues including wages, job security, and work-life balance.
No strike deadline has been set, and Metrolinx spokeswoman Anne Marie Aikins said a strike is “not imminent.”
Meanwhile, the Toronto Star reports as many as 15 train trips per day for GO Transit and the UP Express, which serves Toronto Pearson Airport, could be cancelled this week and next because of staff illnesses. Aikins did not say how many employees were ill.
Those services are operated by Alstom, and the Star reports the union representing Alstom workers has modified its labor agreement, capping work hours at 48 per week instead of 60. The paper reports Alstom has also invited unvaccinated workers, on unpaid leave since December, back to work.
“… also invited unvaccinated workers, on unpaid leave since December, back to work” – another policy turnabout, _after_ dismissing / rejecting anyone who didn’t go along with the “experts”, now they need them to come back. Perhaps because, as it turns out, the jab is not quite all it was made out to be.