‘We won’t back down’ union leader warns, saying TTC workers are set to strike | CBC News

Union officials who represent thousands of Toronto transit workers said they’re prepared to strike Friday, saying the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) isn’t meeting its demands at the bargaining table. 

The TTC and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 have until midnight to broker a new deal and avoid a strike, which would disrupt travel plans for commuters both in and outside of Toronto. The transit system averages 1.3 million riders per weekday, according to the May data posted in the CEO’s report. 

In a news conference Thursday morning, ATU Local 113 president Marvin Alfred said anything it’s achieved during talks “has strings attached and is not authentic,” pointing to little progress in job security, wages and pensions.

“We will be walking out at midnight,” said Alfred. “We are mobilized, we are ready to fight and we won’t back down.”

“You want to avert a strike? Then do something about it.”

A strike would mean subways, buses and streetcars won’t run after 2 a.m. on Friday, which has left city officials urging people to come up with a backup plan for getting around on Friday and beyond.

Wheel-Trans service for people with disabilities will continue to operate, both sides have confirmed. 

ATU Local 113 represents about three quarters of the more than 16,000 staff at the transit agency. Union representatives have said other worker demands include benefits and better working conditions and workplace safety measures amid “record levels” of violence on buses and subways last year.

Different unions and advocates appeared at the news conference in support of ATU Local 113. Laura Walton, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, which represents over a million workers in the province, said it’s in support of the workers doing what they need to do to “ensure jobs remain” with the union.

“When workers win, we all win,” she said.

“The TTC belongs to the people of Toronto, and that we all need to remember.”

Shelagh Pizey-Allen, the executive director of advocacy group TTCriders, said traffic will “grind to a halt” on Friday if there’s a strike, making it hard for people to get to their jobs.

“Workers are going to be blamed tomorrow if there is a strike,” said Pizey-Allen, adding the real problem is decades of underfunding of the transit system.

“They are fighting to protect TTC service levels.”

TTC said it’s ‘optimistic’ it’ll get a deal

On Wednesday, TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said he’s optimistic that the two sides will be able to come to an agreement, and a deal is possible as long as the parties remain at the bargaining table.

The contract talks comes at a moment when the City of Toronto’s finances are strained.

A recent city report shows the city needs to find billions over the next decade to maintain its assets, which include the transit system and other public services.

WATCH: Mayor Olivia Chow still hopeful for new deal between TTC and transit workers:

Chow hopes for negotiated deal in TTC, union talks

With just a day to go before a possible Toronto transit workers strike, Mayor Olivia Chow says she’s keeping her fingers crossed that the TTC and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 will broker a new agreement before the midnight deadline.

In a statement Thursday morning, TTC Chair and Scarborough North Coun. Jamaal Myers said in the event of a strike, both sides have agreed to continue service until 2 a.m. Friday, which is when transit operations end each day.

The union’s collective agreement expired on March 31.

If a new deal isn’t reached, the strike would be the first labour disruption by TTC workers since 2008. For years it had been declared an essential service, but that decision was quashed by Ontario’s top court, which recently upheld workers’ right to strike.

Talking about the possibility of the province legislating them back to work, Alfred said it won’t stop the union from striking.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, but that’s not going to dissuade us from doing the right thing … if there’s a fight coming, we’ll be there.”