From My Bottom Step

The confirmation that everybody’s been waiting for:

To: All News/Public Service Directors
From: London Transit Commission
Date: Monday, December 14 2009; 3:56 p.m.
Subject: LTC Labour Issues

The Commission has ratified the new Collective Agreement with the ATU – Local 741. The agreement covers a 45 month period providing a 13.2% increase in the total cost of compensation. The ATU – Local 741 has similarly advised of their ratification of the new Collective Agreement.

The Commission extends its appreciation to our customers and the community at large for their patience and understanding through-out the course of the labour disruption and asks for their continued patience and understanding as full service is restored on a progressive basis.

Every effort is being made to restore transit service as quickly as possible, recognizing there will be a 4 to 5 day delay before any transit service resumes.

The delay provides the necessary time to complete required servicing and inspection of a sufficient number of buses to start-up and maintain a limited (modified) service. It is expected that the return to full service will take approximately three weeks. The nature of the limited (modified) service will be subject to future public service announcements and updates to the LTC website at www.ltconline.ca.

Subject to presentation of their November pass, monthly, weekday and semester pass holders will be issued a refund cheque for the period of no service or provided credit toward the purchase of a January 2010 pass. The refund for passes sponsored by London’s Community and Social Services will be paid directly to London’s Community and Social Services Department. Further details as to when the refund/credit program will commence will be announced by the end of the week.

The credit applying to the tuition based pass program will be provided as set out in the contracts with the respective Student Councils.

Prior to receiving the media release, I made an inquiry with respect to the specific issue of the length of time that has been suggested will be required to get service restored. I’ll provide that reply if it ever arrives.