Members of Red Deer Transit union plan practice strike
Red Deer Transit workers plan to stage a practice strike picket on Saturday at a city bus station, says the head of their union local.
Steve Bradshaw, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 569, said in a Friday media release the workers will stage the picket starting at 11 a.m. at Sorensen Station "to send a strong message to the city that we mean business and will not stand for their continued refusal to bargain in good faith."
The local said on Tuesday that workers voted 99 per cent in favour of strike action. Its contract with the City of Red Deer expired on Dec. 31. The two sides had continued negotiating until Sept. 1, when the city received notice of the union's decision to stop mediation, triggering a provincially mandated 'cooling off' period of 14 days, city human resources manager Tracy Bruce said Wednesday in a statement.
The union says critical outstanding issues include forcing workers into part-time positions, working them six days a week, and wages.
"Once the mediator's 'cooling off' period ends, if the city continues its stall tactics, we will take the necessary action to ensure our members are treated fairly," Bradshaw said on Friday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Aviation experts say Russia's air defence fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns
Aviation experts said Thursday that Russian air defence fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured.
Police identify victim of Christmas Day homicide in Hintonburg, charge suspect
The Ottawa Police Service says the victim who had been killed on Christmas Day in Hintonburg has been identified.
Teen actor Hudson Meek, who appeared in 'Baby Driver,' dies after falling from moving vehicle
Hudson Meek, the 16-year-old actor who appeared in 'Baby Driver,' died last week after falling from a moving vehicle in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, according to CNN affiliate WVTM.
Boxing Day in Canada: Small retailers fear big shopping day won't make up for tough year
It’s one of the busiest shopping days of the year: Boxing Day sees thousands of people head to malls and big box stores to find great deals. But it's not so simple for smaller shops.
Raised in Sask. after his family fled Hungary, this man spent decades spying on communists for the RCMP
As a Communist Party member in Calgary in the early 1940s, Frank Hadesbeck performed clerical work at the party office, printed leaflets and sold books.
Sinkhole prompts lane closures on Interstate 80 in New Jersey
A sinkhole that opened up Thursday along Interstate 80 in northern New Jersey forced authorities to close the heavily travelled highway's eastbound lanes.
Cat food that caused bird-flu death of Oregon pet was distributed in B.C.: officials
Pet food contaminated with bird flu – which killed a house cat in Oregon – was distributed and sold in British Columbia, according to officials south of the border.
Police in New Brunswick investigating Christmas Eve sudden death
An unconscious individual was found in the 600-block area of Lancaster Avenue early Christmas Eve morning, and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Spending the holiday season alone this year? How to make the most of it
Spending the holidays alone can feel lonely or empty, but it doesn't have to be that way.