London paratransit drivers voted to unionize, result faces legal challenge
Voyago challenging unionization vote under Labour Relations Act, union official says
It could be several weeks before the city's paratransit operators learn whether they'll be joining their London Transit Commission (LTC) counterparts under the banner of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU).
On Tuesday and Wednesday, roughly 150 workers with the LTC division of Voyago, the company contracted to operate paratransit in London, voted on whether to join with ATU Local 741, the same local representing LTC drivers.
It was the culmination of a months-long unionization drive at the London-based company over worker concerns that insufficient wages, staff turnover, and long hours were impacting service reliability.
A total of 131 people cast a ballot, and all who signed a card for membership voted, according to an email from an ATU organizer to the bargaining unit. Drivers for Voyago's inter-community service and King's/Brescia Shuttle are also in the unit.
The results remain unclear after the union says Voyago challenged the vote under the Labour Relations Act, sending the matter to the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB), the email said.
At issue is the size of the bargaining unit, and whether a vote should have been held. For a vote to be held, at least 40 per cent of workers need to sign membership cards.
Voyago argues the threshold wasn't met, and that 130 school bus monitors in an initial roster to the OLRB were left out. It also disputes whether inter-community and shuttle drivers should be included, the email says.
The union argues OLRB didn't allow the monitors to vote, and says the two sides will work with a mediator over the next two weeks. If no resolution is reached, hearings are set for early next month.
LISTEN | London paratransit drivers vote on whether to join ATU Local 741
CBC News contacted Voyago for comment but did not receive a response by publication. Ahead of the vote, the company suggested workers "vote 'no' and have your voice heard."
"We believe that it is best for all of us if we continue to work together directly instead of going through a third party – a union," reads a unionization FAQ from Voyago, obtained by CBC News.
"Unions are a business and their main source of funding is your money in the form of union dues. If the union is voted in, you will have to pay union dues out of your paycheque whether you support the union or not!"
John Di Nino, ATU's national president, said workers in the bargaining unit were paid "probably about 30 or 40 per cent less than what the industry is paying nationally," and didn't have the same protections.
"It's about the wages, but it's the overall contract and the overall provisions within that contract that are going to make for a more comprehensive and conducive environment in terms of working conditions," he said.
"We're seeing complete turnover of people in that industry because they're looking at other agencies where they can make substantially more."
Staffing challenges have led to negative service impacts for riders, said a Voyago driver who requested anonymity.
London's paratransit fleet includes at least 50 vehicles and has more than 7,000 registrants. More than 223,000 rides were recorded last year.
"Every day, there are buses that don't have a driver, and they have to figure out how to put rides onto a different bus. Well, this means delays for our customers," the worker said.
"One of the biggest reasons for this problem in service is not having enough drivers, and the reason for not having enough drivers is because of poor wages that force them to leave."
If successful, unionization could be a positive for the system, said Jeff Preston, a local disability advocate.
"Driving on paratransit really does require some really specialized skills," Preston said.
"There's a complexity to this job that, I think, it's a real loss for us if we're training people up ... and then losing them because they're going on to greener pastures."
Stephanie Marentette, LTC's chair, said it couldn't comment on the union activities of a third party, "however, we do not anticipate any service impacts," should drivers join ATU.
In late August, the commission extended its contract with Voyago for two years ending July 2027.
LTC rolled out expanded service hours for paratransit in September, adding three vehicles for high-demand weekday hours, a recent staff report said.
Although vehicles were available, significant manpower shortages at the contractor saw, "service hours not being delivered and available for trip assignment," it said.
It added that the contractor made improvements to ensure available manpower, but provided few details.
Another 10,000 service hours are expected to come online in January.
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