Negotiating collective bargaining

The structure of bargaining and haggling plays an important role in determining the haggling powers of the employer against the workers in the negotiating process for the contract of 2012.

We are aware that the employer will have their bargaining unit, however it is not known what our side will do. Whether we will form a single unit or multi unit. Specifically whether we would have one master agreement that covers all the union or if it would be better for the rank and file to have multiple agreements that cover each department.

It would be great if each department is allowed to structure their own contract. For example if one department is entitled to certain awards that could not be afforded to others such as stress positions which would require a premium award. For instance it is a known and proven fact that the bus operator title is a stressful position than other titles. However due to the haggling and bargaining bus operators lose out for the sake of solidarity.

We recommend that each department negotiate exclusively. For bus operators there are many factors such as how to operate a bus in traffic, deal with people, deal with revenue, and observe traffic and vehicular laws whereas other titles do not encounter those stresses. In addition bus operators are the face of TWU Local 100 in the eyes of the public.