Belleville Transit workers, members of Unifor Local 1839, have unanimously voted in favour of taking strike action, should negotiations not prove fruitful before April 1.
“Seeking concessions from front-line workers is shameful,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National secretary-treasurer. “Transit workers have earned a fair contract and we will accept nothing less.”
Unifor says the current collective agreement for Local 1839 expired on March 31, 2021. This was a one-year rollover agreement signed during the pandemic to prevent layoffs and secure 40-hour workweeks.
“Despite the risk, transit workers showed up to ensure that Belleville-area residents could get to work and medical appointments and wherever else they needed to go during the pandemic,” said Doug Keller, Local 1839 president.