Larry O’Brien

We are very disappointed that talks have ended once more with ATU 279.

We believe that our offer was both fair and reasonable. It is quite astonishing in these harsh economic times that an offer of 7.25% over three years and the means to allow OC Transpo to become a more efficient bus system is being turned down.

I hear the heartbreaking stories from members of our community as they deal with this difficult situation. It is time to double our efforts to find a fair and reasonable solution that protects the long-term sustainability of our transit service and brings the buses back as quickly as possible.

The negotiating team has been asked to work through the weekend to review the union’s latest demands and present a detailed update for Council to consider at our meeting on Monday, January 26.

I would also like you to send me your thoughts on the strike and make sure to send your views to members of Council as well.

What are your thoughts on the issues of work-rest rules for example?

There is more then enough scientific evidence supporting the claim that being awake for 18 hours produces motor skill and mental skill deterioration equivalent to an intoxication level of .05. This level of intoxication is high enough to have a driver’s license temporarily suspended in Ontario. The current scheduling rules in the collective agreement contravene the safety regulations for transportation workers in Canada.

Because of a gap in federal and provincial regulations, OC Transpo is exempt from safety rules that limit the amount of time someone can work without sleep.

The guidelines are simple: a maximum workday of 14 hours, a minimum rest period of 8 hours between shifts and at least one full day of rest every two weeks.

Of the 60,000 commercial transportation companies in Canada only Ottawa, Gatineau and Windsor are exempt from safety rules that limit the amount of time someone can work without sleep.  Your Council is obligated to ensure the safety of the community. Safety is our number one responsibility.

Here is an example: Currently ATU members can schedule back-to-back 11-hour shifts on a Saturday or a Sunday and there is nothing management can do to stop it. This is dangerous.

Your Mayor will not compromise on the issue of safety in our community.

Some are expressing concerns about the news blackout regarding any negotiations between the City and ATU. First off, it is the goal of the City of Ottawa to reach a negotiated settlement with ATU 279 as quickly and as effectively as possible.

As announced yesterday (Please click here to read my statement), both sides are carrying on informal discussions with the mediator present to bring an end to the strike.

It is clearly important to have these conversations to determine the best way to end this as quickly as we can. These discussions need to be focused, confidential and certainly not negotiated in the media. It is the opinion of both parties that negotiating in the media does little to further our progress in ending the strike.

I agree with the position taken by our negotiators. But I also feel it is very important to keep the citizens of Ottawa, who are suffering as a result of this strike, informed on any significant progress and we commit to doing so.

The good news is that we are talking. The bad news is that this strike continues to disrupt our lives. Your Councillors and I see the effects of this strike daily and we understand the hardships being suffered by many in our City. I can assure you that City staff and Council are working hard to mitigate the effects of this strike.

For example, yesterday City Council increased the mitigation budget by $500,000 to make relief available through our community resource centres and other agencies.  More relief will be made available as and when needed, but I ask if you or anyone you know is experiencing financial or social hardship as a result of this strike to call 3-1-1 to see if you qualify for strike assistance.

Before we adjourn I would like to make a brief comment to the citizens of Ottawa who I know are interested in the status of the transit strike.

Today Council received an update in-camera on the ongoing strike and has passed a resolution to provide additional supports regarding our mitigation measures.

Regarding the status of the strike I have a short statement that has been agreed to by both parties, the City and the ATU, which I will read before we adjourn and I will not be speaking to the media outside this chamber.

“Since last week, the parties have held informal discussions with the federal mediators in an effort to keep a dialogue open on a possible settlement. The parties have also agreed to a media blackout regarding these discussions.”

Regarding mitigation measures, we are continuing to implement supports previously approved by Council and we have today increased the financial assistance by $500,000. The first $200,000 approved by Council last week has been allocated to our social service partners and we continue to receive new requests for assistance.

The City continues to encourage those who are in need of support  to contact 3-1-1.

Please see below a statement I made today as a result of the vote from ATU members who rejected the City’s latest offer.

Also, the City is introducing new, ready-to-go mitigation strategies to help Ottawa residents deal with the transit strike.

For more information on these efforts, please visit Ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1.

Statement to Members of the Public and the Media

The announcements we are making today are a direct result of yesterday’s vote by the ATU to reject the City’s offer.

We believe that the vote was not a win for the ATU and it definitely was not a win for the citizens of Ottawa.

Our response today is clear. The City is open to continued negotiations; we are firm in our resolve and remain active in mitigating the hardships this strike is placing upon our residents.

Let me start by saying we believed and still believe that the offer we presented to the union represents a fair and reasonable offer.

The negotiating team put forward an offer that exhausted the mandate given by Council.

Although we think that the decision by ATU was wrong, it is time to move forward.

I spoke with Minister Ambrose last night.

In the course of the conversation, she gave me the results of the vote tally, and we agreed that the parties should get back to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

I thanked the Minister for having facilitated a vote, and it remains our intent to resume discussions in a timely manner.

In fact, the City was and always has been at the table.

We intend to ascertain if there is any opportunity to reach an agreement under our current bargaining mandate.  We are open to change, but it must be within the economic envelope approved by Council.

But now we have to take additional steps to mitigate the effects of this strike on our residents.

City staff and Council have been working hard to prepare for all circumstances, and what we are seeing today is another step in minimizing inconvenience to the citizens of Ottawa.

Since last night, I have spoken with the members of City Council, updating them on our progress. City management met last night and early this morning to continue our assessment and planning of the situation.

Since the strike began, senior management, the bargaining team and I, on behalf of Council, have been meeting daily to ensure that we can do what we need to do, when we need to do it.

Today, I would like to share with you the steps that we are taking now, and the preparations we are taking for the coming days and weeks…

First, in response to the Minister’s request that we resume negotiations, we have contacted the Federal Mediator to inquire about whether the union is prepared to resume negotiations within the City’s existing mandate. We want to hear from the union so that we can go back to Council and report.

We are now taking some additional measures to help minimize the impact of this strike.

We will be expanding access to the Transitway to promote use of organized shuttles for students and community organizations to reduce road congestion.

We expect that expanded use of the Transitway will be in place in time for Monday morning.

We ask that community organizations contact the City to make appropriate arrangements at 3-1-1.

We are also taking one more additional and important step and expanding Para Transpo to meet demands no longer being met by the OC Transpo system. This will include expanded services for seniors and vulnerable members of our community.

We will immediately be providing emergency funding of $200,000 to community agencies to act as the focal point for arranging these additional services.

To achieve the increased Para Transpo needs, we will immediately hire additional Para Transpo drivers. Some of these drivers are already trained and ready to start.We will also be leasing additional vehicles for Para Transpo.

As well we will be immediately providing emergency funding to those at risk of losing their jobs due to an inability to get transportation.

As an unfortunate and direct response to the no vote yesterday there will be additional layoffs at OC Transpo.

These employees were informed today at lunch. This will unfortunately affect members of ATU 1760.

We did not do this sooner because we wanted to show ATU that we were interested in a speedy resolution to this strike, but the results of the vote leave us with little choice. We have a responsibility to the taxpayers of Ottawa.

In closing, we have a response that is open to continued barging

We are firm in our resolve to protect the taxpayers interests and stand-up for what is right and what is proper.

Thirdly, we have taken the next steps today in mitigating the effects of this strike on the people of Ottawa.

In closing, I would like to thank the residents of Ottawa for their perseverance during this difficult time.