Halifax Transit union head says members ‘forced’ to work extra hours

Halifax Transit is feeling the pinch of staff shortages.

Twice over the past month, Halifax Regional Municipality has cancelled select bus services to try and provide some relief and yet Halifax Transit continues to suffer workplace shortages.

Shane O’Leary, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 508, which represents Halifax Transit bus drivers and ferry operators, told CityNews Halifax that cancelling service is a band-aid solution.

“We are still very shorthanded at our garages due to staffing shortages and a lack of ability to train and keep members working,” says O’Leary, noting that retention is the root cause of the problem. “They are getting hired and quitting almost as soon as they get back out on the road.”

O’Leary notes that the job is exceeding the expectations and demands of both new employees and seasoned operators, adding that members of all experience levels are leaving the profession.

He says lack of adequate training and preparation for new employees is particularly to blame as new members are not willing to work extra hours.

“Workers are working 50, 60, 70 hours a week — some even more,” notes O’Leary, adding ferry workers are doing double shifts and many maintenance staff are working overtime.

“It’s consuming our members,” says O’Leary noting that many staff members are being “forced” to work on days off due to a clause in the members’ contract that states in emergency situations, operators can be assigned extra work.

“That clause was put in many, many years ago and it was not designed for a manpower shortage like we’re experiencing today,” adds O’Leary, who says the employer is using that clause to classify the staffing shortage as an emergency situation.

The starting wage for operators is $21.45 an hour at the training level. It takes four years for members to get to the rate of $28.61.

O’Leary says that is about 6% lower than the national rate and he hopes new contract negotiations will resume in October.

In the meantime, Halifax Transit is currently running a bus operator recruitment campaign to attract new employees.