From My Bottom Step

As expressed in my email to the City’s Manager of Corporate Communications: “As the only member of London ’s media who regularly attends LTC meetings, imagine my chagrin to learn after-the-fact that a news conference about the impending strike had been held at City Hall.”

Here’s what was posted on the union’s website at 01:23 p.m. this afternoon:

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 741 regrets to announce that talks have ended with the London Transit Commission without an agreement.

We have attempted to work through these negotiations with as little disruption to the public as possible, but management has presented the same offer which was rejected by a vote of 94% on October 27. This offer fails to address the concerns of the Membership and as such we are left with no option other than to withdraw our services effective Monday November 16 until such time as we are presented with an acceptable offer or the Commission agrees to arbitration to settle this dispute.

We apologize for the inconvenience that this job action will cause to the riders of London Transit and we thank you for your support. We hope for a speedy resolution to the situation.

Updates will be made to this site as information becomes available.

And this was posted on the LTC website at 01:45 p.m. this afternoon:

The London Transit Commission is very sorry to report that this weekend’s negotiations have ended without an agreement. No further talks are scheduled at this time.

This means, as advised by ATU – Local 741, that beginning on Monday, November 16, 2009, Local 741 workers will be on strike and there will be no transit service.

Please note: Specialized transit services are not affected.

Discussions ended with the London Transit Commission increasing its comprehensive offer of 8.5% to 9.0%. The 9% increase included an increase in both wages (approximately 8.3%) and existing employment benefit programs. The latter includes improvements to the current dental plan and long term disability. Changes were also made to working conditions including report and travel time.

The Commission’s offer, while attempting to address a number of the Union’s concerns, is believed to be fair and responsible, particularly in light of the current economy and the expectations (slow recovery) for the economy over the short term.

Suggested alternatives to taking transit may include carpooling with neighbours or colleagues, walking or biking (please visit the City of London website at www.london.ca to view biking trails).

The Commission apologizes for the significant inconvenience the strike will have on our customers and the public at large. We remain committed to working at resolving the outstanding issues in an effort to avoid an extended strike.

Public transit is a public service. What needs to happen is for discussions to resume, in public. There seems to be too much BS on both sides, and no real way for the public to know who’s full of the most of it.