ttc supervisors vote in favour of strike mandate as first contract talks stall
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ttc supervisors have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate as negotiations for their first collective agreement stall.
cupe 5585 said that among the supervisors’ big issues are workplace safety and staffing as violence and disorder on the ttc has increased in recent years. the union said station supervisors are increasingly dispatched to respond to emergencies, and security-related and customer incidents.
more than a year into bargaining their first contract, 88 of 115 members participated in the vote, with 97% voting last week in favour of possible strike action.
“this is an exceptionally strong strike mandate to deliver in our very first round of bargaining,” said maher abbod, the acting president of cupe 5585 and a station supervisor with 13 years of experience.
“members made their needs clear when we organized for safer work. we’re making our needs clear once again with this strike vote. we won’t accept a contract that moves us backwards.”
jobs more challenging and less secure
the union says ttc management is trying to impose a contract that would make ttc supervisor jobs more challenging and less secure while failing to address workers’ safety concerns.
specifically, the union says, ttc is attempting to introduce split shifts, reduce sick-leave protections, eliminate or freeze shift premiums, and impose short-and-long-term disability terms less than those received by other unionized ttc employees.
“ttc management refuses to acknowledge how much this job has changed or the realities we face every day,” said abbod in a statement.
“we know this work. we know what it takes to keep stations operating safely and to keep toronto moving. we deserve predictable schedules, meaningful workplace support, adequate sick leave, and fair compensation.”
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cupe 5585 said it has offered to return to the bargaining table on aug. 11 and is awaiting ttc management’s response. no deadline has been set for a possible strike.
ttc spokesperson stuart green told the toronto sun on thursday that “the ttc respects and values all of its employees, including the 120 station supervisors within this bargaining unit.
“with the assistance of a conciliator, we continue to bargain with cupe to reach a fair first contract.”
the union says station supervisors are responsible for the management of subway stations with duties including supervising station staff, conducting daily fire, safety and station inspections, identifying and documenting deficiencies, controlling and investigating train and station incidents, and minimizing service disruptions.
“when station supervisors have the support, staffing and protections they need, they are better equipped to respond quickly to emergencies, support frontline employees, and help keep toronto’s transit system operating safely and efficiently,” said peter nasevski, secretary-treasurer of local 5585, with 27 years of ttc service, including 24 years as a station supervisor.
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