A union representing nearly 11,000 front-line TTC workers is slamming management for “walking away” from the bargaining table but the TTC says that it remains committed to a negotiated collective agreement.

In a press release, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 criticized the TTC for ending contract negotiations late Tuesday afternoon in order to “sit and wait for the Ontario Ministry of Labour to appoint a conciliator.”

The union said that the TTC’s decision to “abandon negotiations” came after they were given a proposal for consideration.

“We had successful negotiations last time (in 2014). We had a four year deal with a protection of jobs and we made some moves to help the TTC as well,” ATU Local 113 President Frank Grimaldi told CTV News Toronto on Wednesday. “This time around they are not interested in that. They are only interested on contracting out. That is clear to us.”

Grimaldi told CTV News Toronto that his union is not looking for any significant concessions from the TTC and that most of the points of contention with management concern job security for workers.

He said that he is of the belief that the TTC is not interested in negotiating and is intent on having its terms imposed on members through binding arbitration.

“I think morale is going to be at an all-time low (among members. I think the membership understands what is going on out there,” he said.

Members can’t strike

The TTC was declared an essential service in 2011 and therefor members of ATU Local 113 cannot legally strike.

Should they not reach an agreement with the TTC on a new collective agreement, the matter would go to arbitration.

The TTC, however, says that it believes a negotiated agreement is still possible.

In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, the TTC said that it has already negotiated contracts with unions representing its machinists (IAMW Lodge 235) and its transit enforcement workers (CUPE Local 5089).

“The TTC believes a conciliator can help reach a negotiated agreement with Local 113 and remains committed to productive good faith bargaining,” the statement says. “The TTC negotiated contracts in 2014 with all of its unions, without arbitration. The TTC remains committed to doing the same in 2018.”

The TTC says that it previously provided ATU Local 113 with a “comprehensive package of initial proposals” on Feb. 20.

The last collective agreement between the TTC and the union expired on March 30 but Grimaldi told CTV News Toronto that it is not too late to get a deal done, especially with a 16-day cooling off period necessary before arbitration could begin.

“We invite the TTC to come back to the table, respond to our proposal and try to work this out at the table,” he said.