TTC union eyes Monday a.m. strike -- Head of local says work stoppage is likely if a deal is not reached by Sunday

JEFF GRAY

Globe and Mail Update

April 17, 2008

In a move to heat up contract negotiations, the head of the TTC's largest union says "more likely than not" he will warn today that commuters should expect a Monday morning strike to halt all buses, subways and streetcars unless a deal is reached by Sunday.

Bob Kinnear, head of local 113 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, has scheduled a press conference for 11:30 a.m., during which he could give slightly more than his promised 48 hours notice of a walkout that would paralyze the city's public transit system.

Wednesday afternoon, he said no decision had been made, but warned that such a move may be needed to put additional pressure on the Toronto Transit Commission.

"They [TTC management] know where they've got to be in order to get an agreement and what they're probably doing is posturing until the clock is ticking," Mr. Kinnear told The Globe and Mail on Wednesday. "We'll probably see some movement over the weekend if in fact we go to the press and indicate our 48 hours."

James Morton
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