This update concerns mainly Operators working for ETS, but first, a couple of general points:

• Today, the Coalition Presidents and CUPE President John Mervyn signed a Letter of Understanding to allow the City to re-deploy its labour as needed during the Pandemic.
• The redeployments will not be held up by jurisdictional concerns, meaning you could be working shoulder to shoulder with members of other Unions in your workplace OR you yourself could be redeployed into a workplace with members of other Unions
• Please show respect for each other in these circumstances. This plan will work to everybody’s benefit, keep everybody employed and keep the City moving.
• You may have heard from Branch Manager Robar already that City Council today ordered that riders should board and exit buses by the rear doors AND that fares and fare collection are suspended. Where the passenger needs the ramp is the only exception. This is great news as it means significantly less risk of contact for Operators.
• Community Shuttle Operators have been removed from their work as their equipment has no security shields. CSOs have been or will be redeployed to other work areas, including supporting dispatchers as needed.

The COVID Signup

Monday morning, March 23 at 11:00am, ETS Operators will begin signing the special signup. Here are a few things Operators should consider:

• Signing will be expedited: It will be done in groups of 15 instead of groups of 10 and every 25 minutes instead of every 30. Signing will be complete in 4 days. Check your times carefully and get your choices in early.
• Only LRT – licensed Operators will be allowed to sign LRT shifts. There will be no opportunity to train new motormen.
• LRT shifts will NOT follow the bus shift pattern in that they will work 5 days and have 2 off. Motormen should consider carefully, though whether they want to jump to bus. In the event not all LRT shifts are signed, the remainder will be forced after the signup finishes beginning with the most junior.
• For conventional transit, take note: standby days are like open reports where you don’t show up until you’re called. If you are called for work, you will be expected to attend. If you are not available to work, you may not be entitled to pay. Plan to answer your phone if it rings.
• If the number of shifts left to sign equals the number of Operators left to sign, forcing will commence with the most senior remaining Operator.
• Your bi-weekly pay will be the greater of what you would have earned in the February signup and what you actually worked. All premiums and Stat pay apply.

Sisters & Brothers, that is my update for today, Friday March 20, 2020. I wish you a great weekend and urge everyone to STAY SAFE, STAY APART AND ABOVE ALL, BE KIND TO EACH OTHER.

When we stand together, We WIN together.

In solidarity,

Steve Bradshaw

President\Business Agent