Winnipeg Transit drivers, members of ATU Local 1505, will take their first job action on Tuesday, May 14th. Drivers will not be enforcing fares tomorrow.
Essentially, if you don’t pay, drivers will look the other way.
Members of ATU 1505 and community volunteers will leaflet bus stops today to inform transit riders of Tuesday’s job action.
The union has been without contract since January, with 98% of members rejecting the City of Winnipeg’s most recent offer. ATU says the City is not addressing issues of chronic under funding and infrequent service, workplace safety, and unfair fare hikes for riders.
ATU recognizes 170,000 riders rely on Winnipeg Transit and does not wish to disrupt service. In a statement, ATU president Aleem Chaudhary shares why the union chose to not enforce fares on Tuesday as a method of job action:
“We believe that we can play a vital role in expanding our transit system for our growing City and we want transit riders in Winnipeg to know that the ATU is on their side.”
According to ATU’s research, Winnipeg spends only $93.28 per person on Transit, compared to $252.59 in Edmonton and $305.03 in Ottawa. Winnipeg has only one bus per 1101 Winnipegers, while in Ottawa, it is 943 people per bus, compared to 794 in Edmonton, where both cities already have a separate rapid transit system.
The union is requesting transit riders and supporters call their City Councillor (311) to tell them that public transit matters to you and your family, and that transit workers deserve a fair deal.
You can find more information at www.atu1505.ca.
I agree bus driver deserve a fair deal. solidarity
As the wife of a now retired bus driver I personally believe this is a great idea .The drivers have asked for a safe work environment and the cities response was we will study it and little to nothing was done. They have asked for modest pay increases for many years and have been given small raises. It would be very easy for drivers to all-out strike but this creative approach hurts only the city and allows service to continue for people who truly need it