ATU Local 107 ends collective bargaining talks

HAMILTON, ON – Hamilton residents are encouraged to prepare for a transit disruption as negotiations with ATU Local 107 ended today.

Beginning Thursday, November 9, Hamilton residents are advised to make alternative travel arrangements, including carpooling, bike share and working from home, where possible.

The City returned to the bargaining table on November 7 hoping a resolution could be reached before the ATU Local 107’s strike deadline. The meeting was adjourned when ATU Local 107 indicated that it was unwilling to reduce its monetary demands and would not agree to strike protocols that would have seen the City administer union members' benefits while on strike and create guidelines for respectful workplace behaviour.

The City’s offer, which ATU Local 107 declined, would have resulted in an annual salary of $79,726 in the fourth year of the agreement, representing a salary increase of 12.75% over the life of the contract. ATU Local 107 has asked for an increase of 21.69% over the next four years, resulting in a base annual salary of $86,860 in the fourth year of the agreement.

The City’s offer of wage increases to the nearly 900 City of Hamilton transit workers was nearly identical to the settlement ratified by more than 3,000 CUPE 5167 workers earlier this fall.

The City maintains that its position is fair and reasonable. It would ensure that City transit workers remain among the highest paid in Ontario, ranking third among transit comparators, behind Mississauga and Brampton.

The ATU Local 107’s offer significantly exceeds the City’s offer on wages alone. This increase would be unsustainable for Hamilton taxpayers. Further, it would create significant instability in the labour relations environment in the early stages of the bargaining cycle with the City’s 11 bargaining units.

The City will continue share updates with the community as they become available, posted to www.hamilton.ca/TransitStrike

Quick Facts:

• ATU Local 107’s Collective Agreement expired at the end of 2022.  
• ATU 107 and the City have been negotiating since February 2023. 
• The City's offer to ATU Local 107 would mean that Hamilton transit operators would earn a salary of $79,726 in the final year of the agreement. Salary increases included 3.75%for the first year and 3% each year for the remaining years of the four-year agreement. 
• In September, the City reached an agreement with CUPE Local 5167, which included a 3.75% salary increase in year one and a 3% increase in years two, three, and four, the same offer rejected by the ATU Local 107.