鈥淔ix It, Fund It, and Make It Fair鈥�.
That is the slogan for ATU Local 1722 union workers as they officially take to the picket line on the morning of Oct. 5, creating a full work stoppage for 91大黄鸭 transit.
The union and its employer, First Transit, made a last-ditch effort to come to an agreement by returning to the bargaining table on Oct. 4, though Local 1722 President Al Peressini believes that no deal will be completed in time.
鈥淲e will try to keep them at the bargaining table, negotiating in good faith as long as it takes, but we don鈥檛 have high hopes that they care enough to bring us or this community the respect we deserve鈥lthough it isn鈥檛 inevitable, we, unfortunately, believe that we will be on the picket line tomorrow.鈥�
The union has escalated their job action over the past eight weeks, including the ditching of uniforms and not charging riders. A full walk-off-the-job was announced in late September, if the Oct. 4 talks did not produce a new deal.
Peressini believes that the strike could be avoided if BC Transit ended their contract with First Transit, an internationally-based company.
鈥淭he money that we send overseas to line their profit margin can fix many of the problems that we face here. That鈥檚 taxpayer money, and we want it to stay in 91大黄鸭 and be invested in the transit system we are all paying for.鈥�
Local 1722 will be hosting a press conference at 8a.m. on Oct. 5 from their Hardy Street yard, where members will be picketing.
READ MORE: Central Okanagan transit drivers set for work stoppage Oct. 5
READ MORE: Impending transit strike reaches breaking point in Central Okanagan
Jake.courtepatte@kelownacapnews.com
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