STO labour dispute: How we got to rotating strikes

Bus drivers and mechanics with Gatineau's transit agency walked off the job Thursday morning in the first of what they say will be a series of weekly, one-day strikes.

• STO transit strike in Gatineau: 5 things you need to know
• Gatineau bus drivers' union threatens rotating strikes as of Thursday

While the walkout may have come as a surprise to some, the dispute between the Socit de transport de l'Outaouais and the union representing workers, Local 591 of the Syndicat uni du transport, has been more than two years in the making.

Here's a summary of how we got here. If you're looking for tips on alternatives to transit, read our STO strike essentials.

What's the dispute about?

The union and the transit agency have been without a collectiveagreement since Dec. 31, 2014. Though there are a number of issues on the table, wages remains the big one.

Prior to their meeting Wednesday, the STO said itwould be putting forth a five-year agreement that called for 1.5 per cent increases in 2015, 2016 and 2017, with the 2015 top-uppaid outas a lump sum and some mechanics getting a two per cent increase in 2017followed by two per cent in 2018 and 2.5 per cent in 2019.

While it's not known if that remained the deal on the table atWednesday's meeting, it falls short of the 2.5 per cent increases the union had been asking for in 2015 and 2016. The union had argued that since other STO employees, such as supervisors, were already given 2.5 per cent increases in those years, their membershould, too.

The STO says the difference in money between the two proposals is about $10 million, though how much of that amountis in one-time lump sum payments and how much is in annual costs remainsunclear.

What other issues are on the table?

The union says the STO is trying to curtail the number of employees using their vacation time to booksummers off, though it's not clear how the union proposes to resolve this.

For its part, the STO originallyasked that maintenance workers spread out their holidays across the whole year to maintain the condition of the fleet, but later came back with a suggestion that student workers could handle simpler jobs such ascleaning while qualified maintenance workers performinghigher-skilledwork would get a pay upgrade.

The union has also taken issue with shortened breaks for drivers switching buses mid-shift. In its Wednesday offer, the STO proposed creating a joint committee to look at issues with bus schedules.

The STO also proposed reducing the number of annual leave days from the current 14 to 11 in return for a four-day wage premium for employees who are absent three days or fewer.

What'sthe status of negotiations?

The two sides have been in mediation since November. When a mediator proposed arbitration to settle the dispute, the two sides disagreed over what form that arbitration should take, and Wednesday's meeting did not resolve the impasse.

The transit agency triedunsuccessfullyto appeal to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to recognize public transit as an essential service, but wasdenied.

Theyalso argued to the CIRBWednesday that the union had failed to give enough notice for its Thursday strike, but the board again rejected that assertionand workers were able to legally walk off the job.

On Thursday the STO sent a formal invitation to the union to go back to the bargaining table and proposed dates. It's not known if that offer was accepted.

How did the 2sides get to this point?

The two sides have been engaged in a war of words for months.

The STO angered the union when it suspended some members who also happened to be union negotiators.

In January employees launched a series of job actions, including wearing jeans, refusing to work overtime or special events, and reporting minordefects on buses, taking them off the road for maintenance.

The STO responded by sending drivers home if there was noworking bus available for them.

When will drivers strike next?

The union hasn't revealed a date, but has promised the public will receive 24 hours notice before the next week's walkout.