Timmins transit workers picket city hall as contract negotiations stall

Timmins Transit workers are on strike. CUPE Local 1544 members rejected a city offer, saying it failed to adequately compensate service workers.

A full work stoppage by Timmins Transit employees has halted all public bus service within the city.

In total, 39 full- and part-time workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1544 went on strike after rejecting the City of Timmins’ most recent contract offer over the weekend – marking the first time the local has taken such action.

The striking employees are maintaining a picket line outside Timmins city hall.

City expresses surprise

Timmins CAO Dave Landers told CTV News he was disappointed by the breakdown in talks.

“We came to an agreement with the bargaining team on Friday and thought that this had been resolved,” Landers said.

“But we’ll wait to hear from them to find out what it exactly is that they’re looking for and how they, you know, want to go about starting the conversation again to see if we can get there.”

The city said the rejected offer included a 4.5 per cent raise for drivers and eight per cent for mechanics.

The union said the offer was declined primarily due to insufficient compensation for a specific group of employees.

“The issue is that they haven’t presented enough of a top-up for the service people, so they kind of left them behind,” said Debbie Fleury, a driver for Timmins Transit.

Fleury said a service worker is responsible for cleaning buses and shelters, and picking up garbage around the terminal. She emphasized the union is operating as a unified front.

“They offered a good contract, but they forgot the service people and it’s like we’re going to stand together,” Fleury said.

“That’s what that’s what we’re all about, we stand united. So if they didn’t get what they deserve, then that’s why we went on strike.”

Strike halts service

The strike has left Timmins residents without public bus service since Monday. In response to the disruption, Northern College has arranged for a private bus company to shuttle students.

CUPE officials have said that Timmins Transit workers are among the lowest paid in the province and that frustration has been building for years.

This sentiment was echoed across the picket line, where workers expressed a commitment to securing a fair deal for all positions.

Patrick Begin, a mechanic for Timmins Transit, voiced his solidarity with the service workers.

“I know there’s a competition for mechanics to go to the mine sites and all that kind of stuff,” Begin said.

“But I’ve always loved the city transit, and I love my supervisors and all that kind of stuff, so that’s why I’m here fighting for just a smaller group of the team.”

The strike continues as both sides await a return to the bargaining table.