Metro Transit workers holding strike vote
Posted Jan 18, 2012 09:25:00 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Metro Transit workers will be voting Sunday on the latest offer from their employer, and the president of the Amalgamated Transit Union says he’s recommending rejection.
However, Ken Wilson says he has no interest in seeing his members on the picket line.
“Our union does not want to strike. Our members do not want to strike, but at the same time we are not prepared to make the amount of concessions that this employer wants.” Wilson told News 95.7 Wednesday morning.
Wilson said he’s hoping a strike vote will send a strong message to the city that both sides need to return to the bargaining table.
Negotiations broke down Friday when the union rejected Metro Transit’s final offer.
“We first met for bargaining back in September,” said Wilson. “The employer came out demanding a multitude of dates. Due to a variety of reasons we couldn’t meet with them and the employer immediately filed for conciliation. In late October I stated to the citizens of HRM that this employer is fast tracking us towards a lockout or a strike. Four months later, that’s exactly where we are headed.”
Wilson said he wants HRM residents to call on Mayor Peter Kelly and regional councillors to help resume bargaining and avert a strike.
