T.T.C. Strike Possible For April 1st

If you wake up on April 1st and find that Toronto's subways, buses, and streetcars aren't running, you may think you're the victim of a cruel April Fool's prank. You'd be wrong.
The union representing T.C.C. workers is dead serious when it comes to negotiating their new contract, and they've already recommended that workers reject the commission's first contract offer and deliver a strike mandate.
Despite the ominous outlook, T.T.C. Chair Adam Giambrone is confident a strike can be avoided.
"We're optimistic that we'll be able to reach an agreement that is fair both to our employees who deserve a raise but also fair to the city and to taxpayers who have limited financial resources," he said Tuesday.
"The last thing we want to do is take away a service that the people of Toronto need so desperately," adds Union president Bob Kinnear.
The T.T.C. is offering a four-year deal with 2% wage increase each year. The union says the commission is looking for too many benefit and working condition concessions.
It all adds up to more stress for riders.
"The people need the transportation and we've got to think in the best interests of the people in the community of Toronto and do what you need to do to work out your differences so that we can continue to take the subway," said Michael Adamczyk.
Members will be taking a de facto strike vote on Wednesday giving the union the right to walk out April 1st, should it come to that. That's when their current deal expires.
The last time the Red Rocket fizzled out came on May 29, 2006, when workers staged a one-day wildcat strike that centered over money, safety and the way they were being treated. It left 800,000 people across the GTA stranded and cost the TTC $3 million in lost fares.
The workers - who called the strike a lockout - returned by 9pm after being ordered back by the Ontario Labour Relations Board, which termed it an illegal walkout. And despite the threat of legal action, Toronto never recovered the lost funds.
The TTC would later give those who qualified a one-time refund for the loss of their Metropass service for the day. It was an expensive lesson and one no one wants to see repeated.