TORONTO — Toronto Mayor David Miller has called in a provincial mediator to help avoid a possible wildcat transit strike on Monday that could paralyze the city.
Toronto Transit Commission management and its union have repeatedly clashed over issues of employee safety, and workers were threatening a possible wildcat strike as early as Monday.
Mr. Miller said he asked the province to intervene.
Ontario Labour Minister Steve Peters has appointed an unnamed senior mediator to open talks.
Bob Kinnear, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, said members are frustrated by a growing number of assaults against its operators that usually start over fare disputes.
But TTC General Manager Rick Ducharme told Toronto's CP24 the dispute has more to do with shift changes for maintenance workers than with security issues.
“The TTC is too important a service for too many people to let it be affected by unlawful job action,” Mr. Miller said in a news release. “I'm pleased the province has listened to my concerns and is willing to help work with us to find a resolution.”
The transit system's management says it does have a contingency plan in the event of a strike Monday morning, but did not disclose any details.
