Wages are still a major issue as a strike deadline looms for Belleville Transit employees.
The members of Unifor Local 1839 will be in a legal strike position Friday morning at 4 a.m.
Assistant to the National President Chris MacDonald says the union’s bargaining team were waiting at a local hotel for the city to resume talks Thursday afternoon.
“We have wage increases on the, on the table that are akin to things that would have been presented two years ago when there was zero inflation versus the way that things are right now. And so, these are the second lowest paid bus drivers in the province of Ontario and these transit workers are making significantly less than people doing very like jobs in comparable roles within Belleville, so.”
MacDonald says the union is prepared to sharpen its pencils and put a good offer forward but says the city has a long way to go to narrow the gap.
In a press release issued Thursday, Belleville CAO Rod Bovay says, “The city values the service that Belleville Transit provides and we are working hard to reach an agreement that respects both our transit workers and our city taxpayers.”
Still, the city is encouraging residents to make alternate transportation arrangements in the event a strike or work stoppage should occur Friday.
Bovay says updates will be posted on the city website as well as social media platforms (Facebook/Twitter).
Unifor Local 1839 represents 43 drivers and two cleaners.
