Transit union calls out Windsor's mayor, council for proposed $1.4M cuts to service

The union representing transit workers in Windsor, Ont., says the mayor and council have mismanaged its transit system, leading to proposed service cuts.

Manny Sforza said the idea of cutting when overall ridership has increased since the pandemic makes little sense.

The vice-president of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) said Windsor doesn't have enough buses on the road to handle the volume of passengers — resulting in overcrowding, long wait times and cancellations.

"I have never seen any transit agency across Canada make cuts to services at a time when ridership numbers have this type of growth," he said, adding he hopes citizens reject any proposed cuts to the system.

During his budget address last last week, Mayor Drew Dilkens proposed a 2.99 per cent tax increase — way down from the more than 12 per cent originally discussed. That includes $1.4 million in cuts to Transit Windsor. However, exactly where and how the cuts would be felt are still unknown.

In a statement Wednesday morning, the union said council "doesn't like it" when they take aim at how they manage services, but transit is public and paid for by the taxpayers.

"Elected city officials work for us the people and they need to remember that when they plan, spend, or cut our vital public services that many rely on to get to work, school, and medical appointments," it stated.

Ridership in 2023 was nearly 9.5 million — an increase to pre-pandemic levels in 2019 of 13 per cent, Transit Windsor released in a report this past summer.

However, when it comes to ridership of the tunnel bus, it's not the same story. 

In November, CBC News reported Transit Windsor was facing a deficit of roughly $500,000, with fewer people using the tunnel bus since the pandemic.

Although not confirmed, there's speculation the tunnel bus is on the chopping block and will be discussed behind closed doors.

While he admitted cuts are expected, Dilkens would not confirm the service could be stopped.

"No sacred cows," he told reporters, referring to the service as "highly subsidized used by residents in every municipality of Windsor-Essex. 

"There's certainly an implication with the tunnel bus that city council will have to consider in terms of the cost that's associated with operating that service."

The tunnel bus takes people from Windsor to Detroit — and back — mainly for events and major sporting games. It runs seven days a week with around 20 stops between both countries.

Because the tunnel bus crosses international borders, it requires the city give staff 10 federally mandated sick days, making it more expensive to operate. 

Residents can raise concerns during municipal budget delegations starting Jan. 13. Budget deliberations will then take place Jan. 27.