The City of Winnipeg is adding pressure to transit workers in the hopes of averting a strike this fall.

According to the city they will be amending the terms and conditions previously enjoyed by transit workers effective Saturday August 10, 2019. Bus drivers will no longer be able to request trade or vacation switches for the rest of 2019 and will be assigned their day off groups and schedules when the fall schedule comes into effect on September 1, 2019.

The city says that they are able to make the changes because the overtime ban implemented by the transit union in June met the definition of a strike under the Labour Relations Act. The “strike’ officially terminated the collective agreement the city said in a media release.

The city says that should the union ratify the current offer on the table by August 17, 2019 the city will reinstate the full terms and conditions and bus operators will be able to pick shifts based on seniority,

 Michael Jack, Chief Corporate Services Officer said “While we’re encouraged the ATU has indicated that it plans to take our offer back to its members, we’re using the tools at our disposal to reach a resolution that doesn’t impact the tens of thousands of daily Transit riders who rely on the service.”

The union is calling the move from the city an intimidation tactic that they strongly condemn.

“The ATU 1505 has consistently pledged to work through outstanding issues with the City in order to avoid any disruption to transit riders. The City of Winnipeg has a choice in this matter. Either they can continue to undermine negotiations, or they can recognize the fundamental problems that plague Winnipeg Transit and work with the ATU to fix our broken transit system.”

The transit union has said it will take the city’s offer to its members for a vote but it won’t recommend the offer.

© News4.ca 2020