Brampton buses resume full service as striking city workers pause pickets to honour war vets

Striking Brampton city workers paused their picket lines on Monday to show respect for war veterans and that means public transit buses in the city ran on their usual schedules without disruption.

The strike, which began last Thursday, has impeded Brampton bus service. On Thursday and Friday, bus service was completely disrupted, but on Saturday, it partially resumed. Striking city workers have been picketing Brampton Transit garages, which has prevented buses from leaving the buildings because bus operators are not crossing picket lines.

Fabio Gazzola, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 831, declined to say whether the workers will picket Brampton Transit garages on Tuesday.

"Honestly, our strategy and our conversations are our day-to-day," Gazzola said on Monday.

"We didn't want to be on strike from day one. All we're looking for is to negotiate a fair deal on behalf of our members. We're taking it day by day. We're not planning things out a week or two from now."

The union, which represents nearly 1,200 full-time and part-time municipal workers, has been without a contract since April 9. The union doesn't represent bus operators, who are members of Amalgamated Transit Union  (ATU) Local 1573, but Gazzola said it does represent some employees responsible for transit.

Gazzola said the pickets were suspended on Monday because the union did not want to interfere with Remembrance Day.

"CUPE feels very adamant that this is a day of respect. Under no circumstances, were we going to dishonour the veterans that fought and died in the war to give us the freedoms that we have, such as to go on strike. It was an easy decision," Gazzola said.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, however, said the city will seek an injunction if the union decides to picket city transit facilities again this week. He said limited bus service is unacceptable.

"Our transit operators are not on strike. They have been lined up every day to go into work, but there's been a picket line that's prevented them from working."

Brown said the union should accept the deal currently on the table. He said the offer from the city matches the same deal signed by Mississauga municipal workers who are also represented by CUPE.

"If it's good enough for CUPE in Mississauga and they just signed that deal, we hope that CUPE in Brampton can sign the same deal," Brown said. 

"We don't want our residents to see these disruptions. It's causing real frustrations for residents that rely on transit and other municipal services. We hope that the strike can end as soon as possible."

The union is seeking a wage increase and the same health and benefits package given to management. Employees on strike include those responsible for parks and recreation, road maintenance, animal control, courthouse services, bylaw enforcement, and building inspections and permits.