The City of Peterborough is advising transit riders to be prepared for a possible labour disruption as soon as Saturday (November 18) as the city and the transit union local continue negotiating a new contract.
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1320 will be in a legal strike position and the city will also be in a legal lockout position as of 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, although neither side has yet indicated there will be a labour disruption.
The city and the union have began bargaining since May, including meetings with a provincially appointed conciliation officer. On November 1, the city received an official notice from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, known as a no board report, that starts a countdown toward a legal strike or lockout date.
ATU Local 1320 represents 103 full-time and around 20 part-time city employees. According to a media release from the city, it is not intending to lockout employees at this time. The city also says the union local has indicated it will provide notice before a strike.
The two sides have scheduled two days of bargaining meetings this week. The city says it is advising residents now of a possible labour disruption as transit riders would need time to find alternative arrangements for transportation if there is a strike or lockout.
“We are committed to achieving an agreement that is fair and reasonable for our employees and Peterborough residents,” states the city’s chief administrative officer Jasbir Raina in the media release. “We remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached to avoid a work stoppage and its impact on transit customers.”
The city will share any updates at peterborough.ca/transit and on its social media accounts.
