Vets Cab ratifies new contract

Source: Unifor Local 195.

Unionized drivers at Vets Cab in Windsor have ratified a new four-year contract.

The 300 drivers are members of Unifor Local 195 and voted 79 per cent in favour of a tentative deal reached on Friday.

Local 195 President Emile Nabbout said the deal is a win-win-win.

“I think it’s good for our drivers,” said Nabbout.

“It’s good for the people who own a plate, it’s good for Vets Cab. Everybody here is a winner at this point and our community as well is a winner because we still have the service provided with labour dispute, with no interruption to any service in the community.”

He said one of the challenges facing both sides in talks was competition from other ride services like Uber and Lyft.

“I think we’re going to remain competitive with the rest of the industry,” he said.

“We’re going to be able to continue serving the community. The company will be able to survive and deliver the dispatch and the services they normally do to our industry, this type of industry.”

Nabbout credited both sides for getting a deal done.

“Earlier this week, the demands coming from the company were a little bit unprecedented and we were able to spend long hours on Thursday and Friday to come up with something that can be ratified,” said Nabbout.

Unionized drivers voted on the deal Sunday night at the union hall on Somme Avenue.

Last week, the drivers voted 96.5 per cent in favour of strike action if needed to back contract demands.

The workers’ previous deal expired on Sunday.

- Written by Paul McDonald and Rob Hindi/AM800 News.