Transit union members were turned away from Wednesday’s city council meeting after councillors decided to discuss the transit strike behind closed doors.
About 70 members of the Amalgamated Transit Union 279, including union president André Cornellier, attended the meeting on the transit strike.
But after speaking with legal counsel, the city voted to have the discussion in private. Around noon, they pulled a black curtain across the room’s entrance.
Council is expected to look at several issues relating to the strike that has kept Ottawa buses off the roads for 36 days.
The meeting addressed negative comments Coun. Clive Doucet made Tuesday to reporters, saying the city has mismanaged the dispute. Coun. Diane Deans spoke up before the meeting adjourned, saying Doucet went against council’s agreement that the mayor would be the only spokesperson on the issue.
“I think Clive has his opinion and he’s entitled to his opinion,” said Randy Graham, the union’s national representative.
“I ’m glad that he’s spoken out. But to chastise somebody who’s a freely elected politician – I’m sorry but I don’t think that’s correct.”
Five uniformed police officers also attended the meeting and watched as union members descended on the lobby, shouting down a member of the public who called the strike “disgusting” and accused “those bus drivers” of disrespecting the city.
Cornellier, who made visible efforts to keep his members calm throughout the morning, said it’s up to the other side now.
“It’s not the union that’s going to make buses come back. It’s city council. They are the ones elected by the public to make sure the service is out there on the street. We are the union. We have a collective right to bargain and we’re exercising our right.”
Graham, who said he would be available for negotiations Wednesday if necessary, also agreed.
“I think that they have to come with an open mind and say ‘what happened yesterday, happened yesterday.’ We have to get back to the table. We have to resolve the issues that are outstanding for this membership, in a sensible way, and we will get back to work.”