Brampton transit workers two weeks away from legal strike position

By Charlene Close

A public transit strike is looming in Brampton.

The city has received a no board notice from the Ministry of Labour, meaning about 944 of Brampton’s full-time transit workers will be in a legal strike position on May 9.

They’re represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1573.

The main point of contention is a half-hour break transit drivers currently receive during their eight-hour shift. According to the city, an eight-hour-straight shift with no scheduled lunch period is a current practice for transit systems in Mississauga, Toronto, Hamilton and London – and approved by the Ministry of Labour.

The union is concerned that losing the break would be detrimental to the health of drivers but the city says that transit operators working this shift still have scheduled layover times for things like washroom and food breaks.

Another key issue is a clawback of some health benefits.

If there is a strike, all Brampton Transit and Zum buses will not operate, and all transit facilities and terminals will be closed.

Negotiations are continuing.

This story is corrected: the original version incorrectly stated that the city wanted to eliminate the 30-minute breaks.

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