Submitted by the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 569

Red Deer Transit Workers Overwhelmingly Vote to Authorize Strike

ATU Local 569 Members Frustrated by City’s stall tactics at bargaining table

Pushed to the brink by the City of Red Deer’s refusal to negotiate a contract for fair wages, fair scheduling, improved health measures, and other issues, Red Deer Transit workers voted 99% in favour of strike action in their dispute with the City.

The contract between the workers’ union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 569-Edmonton, AB, and the City expired on December 31, 2022, and the parties have been in negotiations since then.

“The City has refused to negotiate beyond their unilaterally set mandate,” said Local 569 President/Business Agent Steve Bradshaw. “It’s as if we can only negotiate by their rules and within their artificially set limits. They’ve built a brick wall and are huddled up behind it.”

When asked what issues are still outstanding, Red Deer Union Representative Lawanda Ramsey said that there are many outstanding issues, like forcing people into part-time positions, working them six days a week, and wages.

“We were there on the frontline throughout the pandemic and accepted zeros two years in a row while the inflation rate soared to 6 and 8 percent,” Bradshaw continued. “Now that the City is in a better financial position, they expect us to take sub-inflation increases.”

The mediator filed his report and the provincially mandated “cooling off” period is underway.

“Our Union uses a full strike only as a last resort since we don’t want to abandon our riders who depend on us. If the City of Red Deer continues to refuse to come to the table to address our concerns and treat our members like the heroes they are, we will take action,” said ATU International President John Costa. “Rest assured, our Local 569 members at Red Deer Transit have the full support of our members across Canada and the U.S.”