Thursday, April 21, 2022

Toronto & GTA
Union Station electrical workers go on strike

Workers are mainly responsible for signals and communication maintenance as well as train control


Author of the article:
Liz Braun
Publishing date: Apr 20, 2022 •
An entrance to Union Station in Toronto, July 28, 2021. 
PHOTO BY ERNEST DOROSZUK /Toronto Sun / Files

Electrical workers at Toronto’s Union Station went on strike at midnight Wednesday after failing to reach an agreement with the Toronto Terminals Railway (TTR).

TTR claims increased wage demands from the union are central to the action.

Ninety-five people with the the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are on strike, workers who are responsible for the signals and train control at the Union Station rail corridor.

Now commuters worry about potential service disruptions at Canada’s busiest transit hub.

But the strike has not yet affected service. Travellers reported GO Trains and the airport UP Express trains were all on time during the morning commute Wednesday.

Metrolinx operates hundreds of trains in and out of Union Station every day, and has a contingency plan in place for just this sort of labour disruption.

However, spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins has said that if the labour dispute drags on, there could be travel complications at the Union Station hub.

Travellers are advised to sign up with Metrolinx for frequent online service alerts in case of train delays or cancellations.

Always check train schedules for GO transit and UP Express prior to setting out.

TTC buses and subways will not be affected by this strike.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers released a statement Wednesday stating its commitment to working with the company toward a fair and reasonable settlement.

Workers have been without a contract since December 2019.

The pandemic delayed negotiations with the union, but talks resumed in the summer of 2021.

A tentative agreement reached in September 2021 was not ratified by union members.

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