Winnipeg Transit union says mistrust is reason deal rejected

Winnipeg Transit staff have voted 51 per cent against accepting a tentative labour agreement with the city.

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The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1505 reached a tentative agreement on May 22, appearing to avert a strike. But the deal was still subject to a vote from the union's members and city council. 

John Callahan, president ATU local 1505, said the membership did not see some of their long-standing issues, such as working conditions and security, adequately addressed in the tentative deal.

"[Security is addressed] through letters of understanding but we've had those in the past and there's no trust by the membership that anything is going to change," he said.

"Transit made six of their managers into inspectors last year to try to address some of the security issues but they have no ability to arrest or detain anyone, they can only issue summons."

The union rejected the deal after voting from June 8 to 11.

Callahan also said there is no timeline for if or when workers could hit the picket line. He said the union is hoping to get back to the bargaining table with the city as soon as possible.

Wages do not appear to be the issue, according to Callahan.

"The offer that the city made, I mean, it's close. But now the focus changes. They [union members] got past the anger of that and now it's on to the other issues and these are long-standing issues," Callahan said.

Job action, such as refusing overtime, caused delays and cancellations before the tentative deal was reached. That is not immediately planned again but Callahan said he can't say what might happen in the future.

The union represents about 1,100 bus drivers and 250 maintenance workers.