Photo by Photo Submitted
TAKING A STAND – Members of the Yukon Employees’ Union (Y022 Whitehorse Transit and Y023 City of Whitehorse) take part in a noon march and demonstration at city hall Thursday. About 40 people, including Justin Lemphers, the Yukon Federation of Labour president, and Linda Moen, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) Area Council Chair, were there to support the two city units currently negotiating a new contract. Photo courtesy PSAC
Photo by Whitehorse Star
IRONIC MESSAGE – The sign sported by this city bus, seen in December 2017, may become an appropriate expression for the state of affairs set to face transit users on Monday.
Those who use the bus system to get around the city are being advised to look at other transportation options for Monday morning.
Those who use the bus system to get around the city are being advised to look at other transportation options for Monday morning.
The union representing transit workers has served the city strike notice that will take effect at 6 a.m. Monday.
Mayor Dan Curtis is out of town and was unavailable for comment this morning.
City spokesman Myles Dolphin said the notice came in early this morning. It has prompted officials to issue the statement to let users know so they should start finding alternative transportation for Monday and onwards.
The city is in mediation this week with both Local Y023 of the Yukon Employees’ Union (YEU) representing the 30 transit workers and Local Y022 representing 200 other city workers (except for members of the fire department).
Mediation began Wednesday and is scheduled until later today.
Dolphin said the city has not received any notice of planned job action from Local Y022.
Both unions voted in favour of strike action in a vote held last week and over the past weekend; however, they are required to provide 72 hours’ notice before any such action is taken.
Early this week, YEU president Steve Geick said the union was hopeful mediation would be successful without job action being taken.
In a brief discussion Thursday afternoon, Geick said mediation was continuing.
In an interview late this morning, Geick argued the city is “refusing to budge” on certain issues.
“We’re still at the table,” he said.
If there’s no movement by the end of the day, he added, there will be job action Monday.
No decision has yet been made on whether there will be a picket line Monday and, if so, where it would be.
Asked about any possible job action by Y022, Geick said the union is still waiting for the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to rule on an essential services agreement to determine what services would have to remain in place if there is job action.
Meanwhile, a small lunch time rally was staged Thursday downtown near The Old Firehall by city workers calling for a new contract.
Geick described the event as an opportunity for city workers to show support for one another.
The mediation comes after conciliation talks broke down in February. Contracts for both unions ended Aug. 31, 2017.
Negotiations for a new deal got underway last October.
Transit wages range between $25.75 and $35.25 per hour.
Others covered under Y023 are paid anywhere between $12.35 and $52.73 per hour. The amount depends on the position, level of training and years of service.
This would be the first bus strike since a four-month labour disruption began in late 2000 and spilled into 2001.
Students, some of whom use city buses to get to and from school, wouldn’t be immediately affected by a strike because their March break from classes will begin Monday.
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Comments (18)
Up 0 Down 1
jane on Mar 22, 2018 at 3:13 pm
Way to go overpaid union guys! leave those who can't afford any other options stranded because of your greed. Yup, you're making a good point point_ we can make life even more difficult for those who already have enough trouble in their lives_ I assure you those of us who don't ride the bus couldn't care less about your work to rule.
Up 5 Down 0
Juniper Jackson on Mar 21, 2018 at 8:34 pm
Well.. i guess the taxpayer can't pay everyone.. and Mayor Dan wanted his 100 grand and perks, and council wanted their tax free incomes and perks.. they all want their travelling and travel allowances... I guess the rest of the City employee's might have to do without.. Council gets to decide who gets what and they decided to look after themselves.. and for not doing 1/10 the work anyone else has to do.
Up 3 Down 0
drum on Mar 21, 2018 at 3:36 pm
My understanding is that the City did not supply the Union with important information. Both sides play games in negiotiations.
Up 2 Down 3
Yukon Watchdog on Mar 21, 2018 at 8:43 am
How to confuse the public. The work to rule, after declaring a full out strike, is anti-climactic and indicates a lack of solidarity, in my opinion. This union is so lame.
Up 1 Down 2
Politico on Mar 19, 2018 at 3:23 pm
BnR there is no point asking those question. These are just talking points with no real thoughts or reasoning behind them. This way it looks like competent thought but if you ask for concrete proposals there is nothing there but empty rhetoric!
Up 0 Down 0
Josey Wales on Mar 19, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Alrighty BnR....I will keep it mega short as serious throttling of dissent is ramped up at moderation. (Gee I blew that pledge)
SIMA for one to start, CoW has given that group millions over the years.
Gave them a pick up truck too, our assets?
There are many, please do not pretend this is unknown to you...enables willful ignorance.
We have a social justice government, ideas based on emotion devoid of facts create a polarized community.
CoW twice now has made all staff sit through lectures about diversity in the workplace in regards to trans gender, very very expensive that virtue signal.
Do you think the city would pay me to lecture our civic staff on diversity of opinion/thought, free speech and the rights that are being threatened daily with virtuous folks espousing anti biological gibberish?
Clearly you have great disdain for all of the above as it relates to my Star participation.
My ideology is not enabling nanny states, petulant children indoctrinated by rabid leftists, race fetishes, and destroying my country/town
It would seem to I, many folks, perhaps you...cannot think for themselves.
Resulting in many identity groups all power tripping out, demanding compelled speech, ridiculous safe spaces, think there is a right NOT to be offended, enabling actual racists via superiority complexes under the guise of culture....blah blah.
You do not have to agree with a vowel of what I say.
But virtuous enablers are not going to feel me expressing my self freely.
Moderation does, is and will continue to do so.
You may try, folks as you may help you try...but kowtowing is not in my plans.
If you actually think that the status quo is peachy?
That suggests Brain not Running, to me at least.
Up 3 Down 4
BnR on Mar 18, 2018 at 10:02 am
Ok Josey
"Step one...turn the hell off the special interest gravy pipeline."
Which "special interests" are you referring to? How much would we save and how much does this pipeline cost.
"Step two...live within OUR means, not your ideological driven fantasies."
Which "ideological fantasies" are you referring to ". Presumably different ideology than yourself? How much would this save taxpayers by switching ideologies to one more inline with yours?
Up 0 Down 0
Josey Wales on Mar 18, 2018 at 8:57 am
And after all this civic theatre?
Those fortunate enough to have any disposable income, well they too will have to find other means.
“As long as we get ours” far better motto than wilderness city.
Despite many folks here acting feral, animal like...our entitlements cancel out the wilds up here.
And we let that happen, for shame!
Up 2 Down 5
Kerry langaker on Mar 17, 2018 at 5:08 pm
I fully support my union brothers and sisters. If employees were treated fairly there would be no need for unions; but unfortunately we are not.
Up 4 Down 6
Kerry langaker on Mar 17, 2018 at 5:05 pm
I fully support my union brothers and sisters. If employees were treated fairly, there would be no need for unions; but this is not the case.
Up 7 Down 2
Josey Wales on Mar 17, 2018 at 9:52 am
Hello Alan...yes you are very correct in many of your points.
In particular your forgetful addition.
I am most certainly one of them.
Gotta say folks, of the absolute myriad of way actual money can be saved for the epically financially raped and violated taxpayers in the last decade?
That they hit the folks on the front lines right away, are they not residents many of them, are those many not taxpayers, is this not their community too?
Step one...turn the hell off the special interest gravy pipeline.
Step two...live within OUR means, not your ideological driven fantasies.
Step three...I will cease for now on this civic issue, wished to give Alan
some credit for accuracy.
Another awesome sunny day to enjoy, perhaps one day soon we can all enjoy they days better...when our hall is purged of the current King and his nobility.
They aided greatly much of the polarization and dysfunction in our community, for this there is very little argument.
Up 11 Down 1
Guncache on Mar 16, 2018 at 8:33 pm
Mayor and council voted themselves a big raise, get rid of them.
Up 8 Down 3
Tater on Mar 16, 2018 at 7:33 pm
As far as I am concerned there is enough taxpayers money going into the system. NO MORE!
Up 0 Down 0
Anonymous on Mar 16, 2018 at 5:50 pm
There's an error in your story. Transit is represented by Y022 and the rest of City is Y023. The first half of your article is incorrect but seems to have fixed itself near the bottom.
Up 5 Down 5
drum on Mar 16, 2018 at 5:29 pm
The Mayor is out of Town!!!! Where the H---l is he. He got his rise in pay as well as his buddies. I have never belonged to a union but understand the need for them. If we did not have them fighting for workers rights we would still be sending women and children down unsafe mines and little children up chimneys to clean them.
Up 4 Down 8
stay on strike on Mar 16, 2018 at 5:16 pm
Go ahead and strike. You're nothing but a bunch of over-paid, self-entitled slackers anyway. You won't be missed. The free parking will be appreciated.
Up 10 Down 2
Alan Boomer on Mar 16, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Forgot to say more and more people are saying they want the mayor and most councillors gone.
Up 5 Down 4
Alan Boomer on Mar 16, 2018 at 3:12 pm
I feel sorry for people who rely on our transit service.
I feel more sorry for transit workers and city staff. I have seen city managers in action at public meetings. To see them misrepresent things and bully people likely means they are horrible to their subordinates.
I wish council would tackle these issues. Out city could be run some much better.
Again, feel sorry for city workers.