Calgary News Watch

The Calgary City and its Transit workers are going for talks, but the tension is still looming, as the city now wants power to lock them out. The Calgary city municipal board applied to the Alberta Labor Board for the lock out power ability. If this happens it will be an unusual move for the municipal board of Calgary.

According to Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier this power seeking action is to protect the city in case of any problem caused by transit workers. Bronconnier said:

“The city is looking at a number of contingencies and we’ll be bringing them forward next week, as we’ve heard, certainly from the union president, he’s determined to make this as inconvenient for Calgarians as possible, with rotating strikes.”

(more…)

Transit union members take strike vote Thursday, May 3.

With contract negotiations still up in arms, the transit scene looks like it may grind to a screeching halt. And the school kids may just have a few days off.  That is, unless their parents can provide an alternate means of transporting them.

“Parents need to ensure their kids are fully aware of what potentially could go on and are clear on what their next steps are if a strike occurs,”

said  Tania Younker.  Younker is the Calgary Catholic School District spokeswoman.  (more…)

The war between the Calgary City and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 583 is heating up. Now the contract differences have been taken to new extremes with ads in the paper and a he-did-it-first-so-I’m doing-it-back response.

Since June 2006, the 2400 members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 583 have worked without a contract. While negotiations are stalemated, with each side blaming the other, it a an ad placed by the city in local newspapers that has created the current uproar. (more…)