City hall releases transit wage-bargaining positions; union cries foul

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/05/2015 (4124 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The transit union says Winnipeg city hall is presenting a twisted view of its bargaining proposals.

John Callahan, president and business agent of Local 1505 Amalgamated Transit Union, said city hall’s decision Wednesday to release details on bargaining positions is a major breach of an agreement both sides took at the outset of negotiations when they agreed not to discuss positions publicly or with the media.

Callahan said the city also presented the union’s opening position but not the modified proposal that was presented this week.

“Wow, they must be desperate,” Callahan said of city hall. “They’re trying to make us out to be greedy trade unionists who only want more money when we’re just trying to be competitive.”

City says it offered 8% and 9% wage hikes

Winnipeg city hall went public Wednesday afternoon with the conflicting proposals in its negotiations with transit drivers and mechanics.

Winnipeg said it offered transit drivers an 8 per cent increase over four years and mechanics 8.81 per cent over the same time period.

The city says the transit union has countered with demands for a 10.34 per cent increase for drivers spread over three years, and 20.24 per cent increase for mechanics.

“The city values its relationship with employees and believes its offer is fair and reasonable, particularly when considering market conditions, the city’s general economic climate, and other recent wage settlements in the local public sector,” the city states in its release.

The city contrasts the union’s wage demand with the CPI forecast for Winnipeg – 1 per cent in 2015 and 2.1 per cent for 2016.

A civic spokeswoman said the city went public with bargaining positions because “we wanted to update citizens on the status of negotiations relating to this important service.”

Mechanics among lowest-paid in Canada: union

Callahan said the city presented the union’s opening position on wage increases for mechanics, but added the union modified its position during conciliation on Tuesday.

Callahan would not say what the union’s latest position is for mechanic wage increases.

The union originally proposed similar hourly increases for both mechanics and bus operators, Callahan said, but also called for an additional annual $1 per hour top up for mechanics.

Callahan said Winnipeg Transit mechanics are among the lowest paid in the country, ranking 28th among transit authorities, while Winnipeg’s transit drivers rank 24th on the pay scale.

Negotiations to resume Friday

The city and ATU are bargaining this week with the assistance of a provincially appointed conciliator.

Both sides spent 12 hours in bargaining Tuesday and exchanged proposals. There were no talks Wednesday and none planned for Thursday. Negotiations are set to resume Friday.

The ATU Local 1505 contract expired Jan. 17. It was a four-year deal with salary increases of 0, 2 per cent, 2 per cent and 2.5 per cent, that left the top hourly rate for transit bus drivers at $25.64; and mechanics at $31.32.

The union launched a ban on voluntary overtime April 27, which has resulted in some cancelled routes, many late buses and a claim that upwards of 130 buses are sitting idle because of over-due repairs.

The transit union represents 1,100 bus operators and 250 maintenance workers, including mechanics, apprentices, supervisors, janitors, electricians, machinists and labourers.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca