OTTAWA -- The longest transit strike in the city's history is almost over.
The city and striking union reached a tentative agreement yesterday to have all outstanding issues put to binding arbitration, including driver scheduling, which has been the most contentious issue.
The announcement came about an hour before the federal government was set to debate the strike and a day after Labour Minister Rona Ambrose said she was prepared to introduce back-to-work legislation.
"When approved, we would seek an immediate end to Ottawa's transit strike and send everything to arbitration without conditions," said Mayor Larry O'Brien, with union vice-president Randy Graham and president Andre Cornellier flanking him. "The end of the strike is inevitable."
City council is expected to ratify the deal this morning. It's not yet known when the union will vote to ratify. The city is working to find a location to allow the 2,300 OC Transpo drivers, mechanics and dispatchers to vote on the agreement. The OC Transpo employees have been on strike since Dec. 10.
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279 vote could be held be as soon as today or tomorrow.
'TOUGH TIMES'
With the federal government threatening to legislate the strikers back to work, union officials say binding arbitration is the best way to bring the strike to an end.
"These have been tough times," said Graham. "With the inevitability of back-to-work legislation and the time it would take, we met this afternoon and it's in everybody's best interest."
Transport Minister John Baird, MP for Ottawa-West Nepean, said the threat of back-to-work legislation -- along with support from opposition parties -- probably facilitated the settlement.
"The fact they saw we had legislation ready to go likely had an effect," Baird said last night from Parliament Hill. Baird said if either party doesn't ratify the deal, the back-to-work legislation will be introduced immediately.
After word got out that a deal was on its way, a few bus drivers arrived at City Hall in a limousine to celebrate the announcement.
Sue Pelletier has been a bus driver for 20 years and is happy she is going back to work. Pelletier said binding arbitration was the only way to solve the dispute. She blames O'Brien for the lengthy strike.
She also had harsh words for OC Transpo general manager Alain Mercier.
"It's going to be extremely tough to work with Alain Mercier," said Pelletier. "I can tell you one thing, that from every member up he's not respected or liked or a wanted person around the property."
