As central Okanagan resident get ready for another work week, their options for commuting will once again be limited. The ongoing transit strike is keeping buses off the roads and making it hard for frequent transit users to reach their destinations.

The strike is now into its eleventh day and there is no end in sight for picketing workers or for transit riders. On Sunday, the union confirmed there are still no talks scheduled between the two sides.

“I wish they would start talking again,” said picketing HandyDART driver, Garth Metcalfe. “I just want to get back to work.”

Picketing workers say they are fighting for their futures.

“If I do get a full time position, I’d like to know that I have a good future laid out for me,” said transit worker Randi Gorcak.

As bus loops remain empty Kelowna’s mayor has entered the fray. On Friday, Colin Basran issued a statement urging the two sides to get back to the bargaining table.

Paul Thorp •
Toronto, Ontario
Mr. Cooper,
It is extremely troubling to hear your position on the Saskatoon Transit Local 615 dispute and I could disagree with you more.

Why should anyone in society settle for less than what is fair and reasonable? ATU Local 615 recognized that the city’s offer was not reasonable and held fast.

Trade Unions have fought for the betterment of the working class for over a century. It was us that stood up to employers and governments for better working conditions, health care and a 40 hour work week just to name a few.

Most recently Trade Unions championed the fight to increase the CPP for all workers not just our own. We are currently fighting for a national pharmacare program for all. We are opposing Bill C-27 which could affect retirees and the benefits they currently receive.

It’s time the working class stop settling for less. Stop taking the scraps of the working elite and hoping that things will get better. Stop settling for precarious part-time employment.

Come together as one united voice and organize.

Paul Thorp President ATU Canada

Kelowna RCMP say weapon was found to be pellet gun

The union representing striking transit workers in the Central Okanagan says a man pulled a gun on a striking bus driver outside Kelowna’s Orchard Park Mall Monday morning.

Police now say the weapon was a pellet gun.

The incident was reported to have happened just after 10 a.m. PT Monday as transit workers picketed at a mall bus stop.

Bus drivers said the man screamed at the picketers to get back to work. He then allegedly pulled out the weapon, pointed it at a driver and sped away on a bike. No one was injured.

“It’s unbelievable. I’m still processing this,” said Scott Lovell, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1722.

HALIFAX – The president of the Amalgamated Transit Union is adding his voice to the chorus of people calling for the transit re-development plan to be put on hold.

Ken Wilson is pushing to pause the review to give councillors better data on better routes, schedules and passenger counts–something he has been saying for the past year.

“Now we have It’s More Than Buses and a few new councillors echoing my concerns back from a year ago,” Wilson tells NEWS 95.7. “It comes back to the same old thing. We have to look at turnout.”

He says you only have to look as far as transit’s own scheduling department to see why there are problems with the system.

“I started here in 1999 and I’ve seen the scheduling department morph to 20 people in total. It used to be 3. So, we have all of these scheduling experts now, but the product is no different on the road, and it’s ebcause the schedulers don’t use the buses.”

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ATU Canada is sending our best wishes to all our American Brothers
and Sisters a Happy Thanksgiving!

A tentative settlement has been reached in the Central Okanagan transit strike.

Buses could start running again on Thursday.

In a news release issued late Tuesday afternoon, First Canada, the company that operates the Kelowna Regional Transit System, said a tentative deal had been reached. Details of the settlement were not released.

First Canada said the 217 unionized workers would vote Wednesday to ratify the deal. If it’s approved, buses could run again on Thursday.

In Solidarity to our brothers and sisters from ATU 1722 – Kelowna, BC whose agreement has been accepted!

There was a total of 177 members who voted:
108 – In favour
69 – Not in favour

On Thursday, November 24, 2016, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107 commemorated the 110th Anniversary of the HSR Transit Strike last night and encouraged Hamilton citizens to join them in a battle against the privatization of Ontario’s hydro and transit.

The Rally, which was held in front of Hamilton City Hall, welcomed hundreds of concerned citizens, and several other ATU and CUPE Locals.

Guest Speakers, including Ontario NDP Leader, Andrea Horwath, Bob Kinnear, President of ATU 113 (TTC), Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario, and many others took to the stage in support of keeping Hydro One public. Keeping hydro public will continue to mean both affordable and reliable transit fares.

“Anyone who learns that a vote by Hamilton City Council could ultimately give up local control to bureaucrats at Metrolinx who have contracted out other transit lines becomes upset. LRT or BRT – it must be kept under local control through HSR and answerable to local transit riders through local elections,” says Eric Tuck, President of ATU 107.

The latest version of ATU 107’s commemorative 1906 HSR Strike video is now available. This video provides additional historic information about the working conditions, wage scales and collective agreement details.