Transit Workers Win BIG East of Toronto

AJAX, Ont. – Transit workers at Ajax Pickering Transit Authority, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), voted 98 per cent in favour of a new collective agreement yesterday evening, Tuesday, May 3. The 135 transit operators, mechanics, cleaners and office workers won a 7.5 per cent wage increase over the term of the contract – from April 1, 2004 to December 15, 2005.

“This wage increase is a great win for our members, and it brings our wages significantly closer to what transit workers in neighbouring municipalities earn,” said Al Luce, vice-president of CUPE 129-01. “In our next round of bargaining, we will focus on achieving parity and enhancing other features to ensure that CUPE members continue to have the best agreement in the Durham region.”

“The workers also won a $500 signing bonus, which when added to the significant wage increase, will make CUPE members some of the best paid transit workers in the Durham region,” said Luce. The transit authority’s board of directors will vote on the agreement on Friday, May 6.