Centretown’s OC Transpo users may have a hard time catching the bus this Christmas.
Ninety-seven per cent of OC Transpo supervisors and special constables in the CUPE 5500 union have voted in favour of a possible strike after Dec. 23 if the City of Ottawa does not offer them a more favourable contract.
Talks to renew the union’s collective agreement with the city intensified in late November when cuts to union benefits were proposed, says union president Wayne Watts.
He says the proposed cutbacks run across the board, including potential reductions to survivor benefits, out-of-country coverage for traveling union members and a possible wage freeze.
The union has insisted that the cuts must be taken off the table: “CUPE 5500 does not do concession bargaining, we’re not giving back (current benefits),” he says.
There would be a significant impact on the bus routes running through Centretown if the 140 union members go on strike.
Special constables respond to any criminal activity that occurs on buses and supervisors assign work to maintenance crews.
Without the support of special constables, some bus drivers might not even feel safe enough to drive their routes, says Watts.
One OC Transpo bus driver, who asked not to be named, says he is unsure what would happen if CUPE 5500 does go on strike. If a driver has a problem, he says, “who are you going to call?”
City officials are not saying much about the possibility of a strike.
“All we can say is that the talks are ongoing and it’s part of the regular union negotiations process,” media relations officer Josee Roy says.
But Watts says negotiations this time are anything but normal.
He says some council members, the mayor and the OC Transpo general manager have all become involved in the collective bargaining process, which is unusual.
“Council is getting their nose into something they’re supposed to leave up to the labour relations team.”
Watts says the city is not offering the recognition and support that his workers deserve as a professional group.