Greyhound Canada, strikers reach tentative deal

[Omaha Steve]

Source: reuters

By Lionel Perron

TORONTO, May 24 (Reuters) - Greyhound Canada and its bus drivers, mechanics and terminal staff reached a tentative contract deal late Wednesday, but the strike that has halted the company's Western Canadian operations will continue until union members vote, the bus line said.

The Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents the striking workers, said on Thursday it won't recommend the deal to its members.

"They're standing firm on a lot of stuff, but they made some changes and we feel obligated to present this to the members, because it's tough, a strike is very difficult for them," said ATU Local 1374 president Jim Higgs.

The bus line's 1,150 unionized workers walked off the job May 18 in a dispute over wages and job security.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/tnBasicIndustries-SP/idUSN2434897120070524

[ret5hd]

1. Last Friday my wife and I were at the Toronto bus station...

A young woman (early 20's) was stranded...she had bought a bus ticket, went west, the strike started, they sent her back to Toronto and dropped her off till the next day (when her bus back home would arrive) at the bus station, closed the bus station and kicked her out. A cab driver charged her $25 to bring her 6 blocks to a hotel when there was a hotel across the street (not immediately evident if you didn't know where to look). She was alone and scared and practically in tears. We really felt for her.

We didn't get her name. So, young woman, if you happen to read this, we hope you made it home OK...no thanks to Greyhound.