Union to hold Press Briefing on Strike at 9am, Monday
(Maple Leaf Square, 15 York St., Toronto, ON)
TORONTO, ON – Despite ATU Local 1587’s best efforts to negotiate an agreement to address safety issues and other concerns in the final 48 hours before the strike deadline, 2,200 GO Transit workers will be on strike starting at 12:01 a.m., Monday morning.
The Union will be holding a press briefing to discuss the strike at 9:00 a.m. on Monday at Maple Leaf Square in downtown Toronto.
Metrolinx continues to refuse to address safety concerns by ensuring that experienced and highly trained workers remain on the job, and continues to refuse to budge on language that would protect GO Transit jobs from being contracted out. The Union has emphasized that safety and job security are its top priorities since bargaining began in April.
“Negotiations have failed because Metrolinx failed to come to the table with a reasonable offer to address any of our key issues,” said Local 1587 President Rob Cormier. “Protections against contracting out are imperative to ensure that experienced workers are on the job running GO Transit safely and efficiently. Without these protections, Metrolinx can contract to outside companies which will hire inexperienced workers in precarious, non-union positions.”
Metrolinx workers had originally planned to strike on October 31, but last Wednesday pushed back the deadline in order to vote on the most recent offer. The deal failed overwhelmingly, with 81% voting to reject it and go on strike.
“We have been bargaining in good faith for more than seven months with the aim of avoiding a transit stoppage, but I cannot say the same of Metrolinx’s negotiators,” said Cormier. “Even in these final hours, the company did not offer a single serious proposal on our priority issues. We strike only as a last resort, but the company’s stonewalling tactics have left us no choice.”
The ATU strike comes three days after 55,000 CUPE education workers walked off the job.
“This union-busting crown corporation has been given its privatization mandate by the same government that is revoking Charter Rights for CUPE workers,” said ATU International President John Costa. “Our Union and our members at Local 1587 are fed up with the disrespect Metrolinx has shown them. We had hoped it wouldn’t come down to this for our riders, but our Union has been down this road with strikes. We will stand with our brothers and sisters on the picket lines until we win.”
What: ATU Local 1587 Press Briefing on GO Transit Strike
When: 9:00 AM Monday, November 7, 2022
Where: Maple Leaf Square, 15 York Street, Toronto, ON
Who: ATU Local 1587 who work for GO Transit