Transit union having ‘open conversation’ about blocking Access-A-Buses
Posted Feb 16, 2012 09:19:50 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The head of the union representing striking Metro Transit worker says his executive is having an “open conversation” about blocking Access-A-Buses from returning to service on Monday.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 508 president Ken Wilson made an unscheduled call to News 95.7’s Maritime Morning today to respond to the city’s decision to have managers operate some Access-A-Buses on a limited basis.
“To limit the service to people with mobility issues and disabilities doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “If we’re offering binding arbitration to put us back to work…let’s get everything on the bus, not just five or six Access-A-Buses.”
When asked whether union members would block Access-A-Buses from leaving Metro Transit’s garages in Ragged Lake and Burnside, Wilson said union executives and the bargaining team were talking about it.
“We haven’t decided that completely yet, we’re still working through the details,” he said. “It’s still an open conversation.”
Wilson said he’s heard from some people with disabilities who have said they’re offended by the city’s decision to restore partial Access-A-Bus service.
“I’ve talked to three or four people from the Disabilities Association who think this is an insult to them, they want to be treated like you and I,” he said. “Why are they special and they get a bus and the people living downtown, or a student, can’t get the route 1?”
Wilson says the union has voted overwhelmingly to send the labour dispute to binding arbitration, and says his members are willing to return to work while the arbitration process unfolds.
He says that’s the only way to resolve the strike, but the city has rejected that option.
A release from HRM states the partial Access-A-Bus service will be available to registered users for transportation to and from medical and specialist appointments.
Details for registration can be found on the HRM website.
