Unit 3: Supply and Demand and the Market for Labour

Ch. 9: Labour Unions

 

TTC workers’ union fights for a return of the right to strike

The province made the TTC an essential service in 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TODD KOROL / TORONTO STAR

The TTC was made an essential service by the province in 2011, removing its workers' right to strike. The union now hopes to get that right back, following a Supreme Court decision in Saskatchewan.

 

By: Tess Kalinowski Transportation reporter, Rob Ferguson Queen's Park Bureau, Published on Mon Oct 26 2015

 

 

The TTC workers union has appealed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in a bid to win back its right to strike.

 

The provincial Liberal government made the TTC an essential service in 2011, acting on a request of the city in the wake of an April 2008 transit strike that stranded riders late on a Friday evening.

 

The appeal, filed Monday, follows a decision earlier this year by the Supreme Court of Canada, which struck down Saskatchewan's removal of public workers' right to strike there.

 

"The court ruled that a fundamental right of unions in collective bargaining is the right to strike," said Bob Kinnear, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113.

 

"While (a strike) may be an inconvenience to the 1.5 million people who ride our system, it's not a life-threatening situation," he said, citing a September 2008 city staff report that found the 2008 weekend transit strike did not impede emergency services.

 

The province legislated an end to the strike by Monday morning.

 

Kinnear said the Liberal government, which was facing an election in 2011, feared a backlash from conservative former Mayor Rob Ford's supporters if it refused.

 

But Labour Minister Kevin Flynn defended the legislation on Monday.

 

"The elected officials in the city of Toronto, and certainly the people who live in the city of Toronto, understand and agree that it is an essential service and needs to be treated as such," he said.

 

"We've endured those strikes, we've seen what happens when that is paralyzed …. So many people rely on that service on a daily basis."

 

Flynn said there is no push to make GO Transit an essential service, because those commuters can "make other arrangements."

 

But Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown said traffic and transit patterns suggest that should be debated.

 

"A conversation has to be had," Brown told reporters, saying many people rely on GO as much as Torontonians "rely on the TTC to get to work."

 

GO has never had a strike, said a spokeswoman.

 

Kinnear noted that the province did not intervene during a three-month strike by York Region bus drivers later in 2011.

 

"I guess the people in York Region aren't as important as the people in Toronto," he said.

 

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath remains cool to the essential-service legislation for the TTC.

 

"Collective bargaining rights are pretty fundamental, and the right to strike is a big piece of that; it's what gives bargaining leverage to the workers," she said.

 

Summary

            In an article written by Tess Kalinowski and published by the Toronto Star on October 26th, 2015, it is learned that the TTC workers union has appealed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in an attempt to win back the right to strike. In the wake of a 2008 transit strike by the TTC labour union, the provincial government made the TTC an essential service in 2011. The appeal follows a decision earlier this year where the Supreme Court of Canada struck down Saskatchewan’s removal of public worker’s right to strike there. “A strike may be inconvenient to riders, but it’s not a life-threatening situation,” said Bob Kinnear. The provincial government was facing an election in 2011, and feared a backlash from former Mayor Rob Ford’s supporters if it refused. “The elected officials in the City of Toronto, and certainly the people who live in the City of Toronto, understand and agree that it is an essential service and needs to be treated as such,” says Kevin Flynn. There has been no efforts to make Go Transit an essential service as Flynn says “those commuters can make other arrangements.” NDP leader Andrea Horwath made a statement earlier on this issue, stating “collective bargaining rights are pretty fundamental, and the right to strike is a big piece of that; it’s what gives bargaining leverage to the workers.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the 2008 strike, 1.5 million riders were inconvenienced and forced to find a different method for getting around the city and the GTA

 

Economic Concept

            In class, the topics of collective bargaining as well as labour unions have been discussed. In the article, the TTC staff is fighting to get the right to strike back. The TTC labour force went on strike in 2008. In 2011, the right to strike was taken away from the workers after the TTC was deemed an essential service. Going on strike is the refusal of employees to work until certain terms are agreed upon. Striking is a tactic used by the labour force in order to push management to agree to their terms during collective bargaining. Collective bargaining is the process of negotiating various terms of an agreement or contract. All TTC employees are a part of a labour union, which is an organization of workers who discuss with management about various terms and agreements during collective bargaining. A lockout is a tactic used by management during collective bargaining. This tactic is observed when employers refuse to allow their employees to work until certain terms are agreed upon. A lockout is the opposite of a strike. In this situation, there is not a lockout made by the employers, rather the employees are fighting to have their right to strike back.

 

Collective Bargaining: Negotiation of wages, and other conditions by a group or association of workers

 

Labour Union: A recognized and organized body, or association of workers usually formed to protect their rights and interests

 

Strike: The refusal to work by a group or body of workers, usually as a form of protest. This is also a method used to gain a concession or concessions from their employers

 

Lockout: The refusal by management to allow employees to work until certain terms are agreed to