Transit Employees Sign Tentative Labour Pact

08/31/2025

I am writing to advise that, at approximately 2:30 a.m. on August 30th, the bargaining teams for the City and the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 279 (ATU 279) reached a tentative agreement for the renewal of the collective agreement for employees in the conventional transit bargaining unit.

The bargaining unit consists of approximately 2,300 bus operators, rail operators, mechanics, dispatchers, fare inspectors, and fleet and facilities maintenance staff who deliver and support OC Transpo service. The collective agreement expired on March 31, 2025.

Of note, the parties continued negotiations following a Notice of Dispute and Request for Conciliation Assistance pursuant to the Canada Labour Code, filed by ATU 279 on June 20, 2025, and were able to reach this tentative agreement as the Conciliation period expired, without the assistance of the federally appointed conciliator.

In keeping with the standard practice, details of the tentative agreement will remain confidential until presented for ratification. At present, it is anticipated that the tentative agreement will be submitted to ATU 279 membership for a vote in the coming weeks. Once ratified by ATU 279, the tentative agreement will be presented to City Council for ratification, in keeping with the City’s standard practice. That said, staff anticipate providing an in camera briefing on the tentative agreement in September.

Sincerely,

Stuart Huxley

City Solicitor (Interim), Office of the City Solicitor