ATU Local 616 remains committed to reaching an agreement with company, will hold press conference Tuesday at 12 pm, with location to be determined
WINDSOR, ON – For the sake of Transit Windsor riders and the community, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 616, representing almost 300 workers of Transit Windsor, will temporarily delay their strike and service disruptions that were scheduled to begin at 12:01 am, January 15, 2024 - if a tentative agreement is not reached today.
On November 19, 2023, a strike mandate vote was held and 97% of ATU Local 616 membership voted in favour of strike action, if required. We have been in a legal strike position since December 3, 2023, but were reluctant to inconvenience our ridership throughout the holidays.
“We are committed to remaining at the bargaining table for a few more days to negotiate a fair deal – but Transit Windsor management has been unfair and will have to significantly improve their offer,” says ATU Local 616 President, Dragan Markovic.
"We care about our riders who rely on Transit Windsor to safely get to work, school, the doctor, and other destinations on time, but our members deserve a fair contract that allows them to provide for their families and keeps up with the cost of inflation," says ATU International President John Costa. “Make no mistake, our members will stand strong and united in their fight for the contract they deserve.”
The parties maintain opposing positions on some issues, especially federally legislated sick days that the employer is seeking concessions for.
"In all my years of bargaining, I have never experienced the unreasonable and unethical bargaining techniques of Transit Windsor staff," says ATU International Vice President Manny Sforza.
ATU Canada President, John Di Nino said "any future labour disruptions will solely be on the backs of an ineffective Transit Windsor bargaining team, not the Union for exercising its bargaining rights.”
The ATU will hold a press conference on Tuesday, January 16th @ 12:00 pm to update the media and our transit riders, with the location to be determined.