TTC Strike Averted with Tentative Deal Between Union and Management

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) strike has been averted as the union representing nearly 12,000 TTC workers, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113, and management reached a tentative deal, ensuring normal operations for the city’s commuters.

Marvin Alfred, the president of ATU Local 113, confirmed the agreement after late-night negotiations, signaling relief for over 1.3 million daily transit users in Toronto. The deal covers a three-year period until March 31, 2027, with further details to be discussed for ratification.

Coun. Jamaal Myers, chair of the TTC board, expressed optimism for the deal’s approval at the upcoming board meeting, emphasizing the importance of maintaining service standards while valuing the contributions of ATU Local 113 members.

CEO Rick Leary highlighted the positive outcomes of the tentative deal for employees, the city, and the TTC, which moves approximately 1.3 million riders per weekday. Leary underscored the need for ratification by the union’s rank and file before presenting the deal to the TTC board.

Mayor Olivia Chow welcomed the resolution, pointing out the potential economic damage a strike would have caused due to the city’s fiscal challenges. Chow’s handling of the negotiation process reflects her pro-labour stance, securing a deal without resorting to back-to-work legislation.

As the city breathes a collective sigh of relief, TTC riders at Greenwood Station expressed gratitude for the avoided strike, with individuals like Asala Abbas and Krishna Kolamu relieved at the prospect of normal transit services.

The negotiation process, spanning months of collective bargaining since February, resolved key issues such as wages, benefits, and job security. The union’s overwhelming vote for strike action in April escalated the urgency for a resolution following the expiry of the previous collective agreement in March.

Past legal rulings, including a 2008 TTC strike and a recent Ontario Superior Court decision regarding essential service designation, added complexity to the negotiations, further prolonging the bargaining process.

Reported by CBC News in Toronto, the collaboration between ATU Local 113 and TTC management signifies a fruitful outcome for transit services in the city, avoiding disruption and ensuring continued operations for Toronto commuters.