Nearly 500 Blue Line Taxi drivers in Ottawa walked off the job at 2:30 p.m. Thursday after the company refused to continue contract negotiations, according to Unifor, the union representing the workers.
The strike affects 494 full-time drivers and could impact taxi service across Ottawa, the union said. Workers voted 93.6 per cent in favour of strike action before launching the work stoppage.
Dispute centres on fee increases
The core issue is Blue Line Taxi’s demand for a 20 per cent increase in taxi stand fees — the weekly amount drivers pay to pick up fares, according to Unifor. The union says this amounts to a pay cut for drivers already struggling financially.
“A massive stand fee hike is a direct pay cut for drivers,” said Bahdon Issa, president of Unifor Local 1688. “Our members have shown overwhelming support for fair bargaining, and we will not accept an employer that refuses to meet us at the table and tries to impose its own terms.”
Negotiations break down
Blue Line Taxi presented a final offer on Sept. 3 and asked Unifor to provide a counterproposal, the union said. After Unifor submitted its response, the company stopped bargaining altogether, according to union officials.
“The employer has refused to bargain in good faith, insisting on dictating the terms of the collective agreement instead of negotiating one,” said Lana Payne, Unifor national president. “Workers deserve respect, not ultimatums.”
Picket lines established
Striking drivers have set up picket lines at Blue Line Taxi’s head office at 455 Coventry Road. The union said workers remain ready to return to negotiations to reach a fair collective agreement.
Unifor represents 320,000 workers across Canada’s private sector and describes itself as the country’s largest private-sector union.
