News Release
HRM Disappointed Talks with ATU Break Down
(Wednesday, September 26, 2007, 7:10 pm) Following today’s meeting between HRM and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 508 bargaining unit, the union filed a strike notice with Nova Scotia Department of Labour at 2:25 pm. This will place them in a legal position to strike as of 2:25 pm on Friday, September 28, 2007.
The parties met again this evening with the conciliator. HRM reiterated its offer to the ATU local 508 bargaining team. This offer included a revised wage package within a five year collective agreement, conditional upon HRM achieving collective agreement changes to support safe hours of work and rest and scheduling.
The evening meeting between the HRM and ATU Bargaining Teams has concluded without any further progress. HRM is disappointed to have been informed by the ATU bargaining team that it would not take this offer back to the membership nor would it bargain changes to the collective agreement to support HRM in its objective of achieving safe hours of work and rest and scheduling.
HRM’s position is as follows:
• Council is committed to the safe operation of our Transit system for our employees and travelling public.
• We believe that more than 16 hours of work in a day is not safe and compromises operator and passenger safety.
• We continue to seek value for our taxpayer's dollar.
• HRM has invested over 70 million dollars this year in our public transit system.
• Employees will continue to have access to safe hours of overtime.
• Existing seniority and benefits will be maintained and HRM offers benefits to enhance part time staff.
• The offer fulfills our commitment to make our operators the highest paid in Atlantic Canada, which we believe is more than fair.
• 26% over 5 years to bring mechanics to $29.10 at the end of the agreement
• 20% over 5 years to bring operators in Access-A-Bus to $21.91 at the end of the agreement
• 19.4% over 5 years to bring conventional operators to $23.91 at the end of the agreement
• 15% over 5 years for the remainder of the employees within the bargaining unit
• Council has responded to the Union's position over growth by authorizing management to hire in excess of 40 new operators and 16 new operators are currently being trained
HRM encourages Union members to consider the offer on its merits and we hope to continue to have discussions to achieve a collective agreement.
During a work stoppage provisions will be made for registered Access-A-Bus passengers requiring dialysis.
Council has instructed its bargaining team to be prepared to return to the table at any time, if requested.
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Contact:
Andrea Gillis
HRM Chief Negotiator
476-8893
Lori Patterson
Metro Transit
476-5975
