OC Transpo bus

Strikes are causing disruptions for travellers and commuters in both the Hungarian and Canadian capitals this week, with public transit workers on the picket line in Ottawa and essential ground staff engaging in strike action at Budapest’s Ferihegy International Airport. According to the most recent statements by Budapest Airport Zrt, the company that operates Ferihegy, flight delays of around 60 minutes are anticipated on December 12, 2008, but it is unlikely that new flights will have to be cancelled. Ferihegy Terminal 1, however, remains closed to passenger traffic and all flights that would have normally departed from here have been transferred to Terminal 2. This change affects passengers flying with discount carriers, including Wizz Air, easyJet and Jet2.

The public transportation strike in Ottawa, however, is proving to be far more disruptive than the labour dispute in Budapest, in part due to the fact that it coincided with a major winter storm, which dumped more than 30cm of snow on the Canadian capital in a single day. All OC Transpo city bus lines have been cancelled for two straight days, following the walk-out of 2,100 unionized transit employees. The strike has resulted in a 20 percent increase in the number of passenger vehicles on downtown Ottawa’s congested streets. The strike will head into its third day on Friday, December 12th, wrecking the most havoc for students at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, who are writing final exams this week. 

The Carleton University Student Association (CUSA) has tried to alleviate the difficult situation by enlisting the services of a private bus company to offer shuttle bus transport from various points in Ottawa to Carleton’s campus. Shuttle bus service will pick students up every 45 minutes from Merivale Mall, while hourly service is being offered between Place d’Orleans and Carleton University. Students living in Centretown can hop on a shuttle bus at the corner of Bank Street and MacLeod Street every 30 minutes. A representative for the Amalgamated Transit Union, the group behind the strike, suggested that these buses might be targeted by picketers. Meanwhile, CUSA has issued a statement calling upon Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien to return to the negotiating table and come to a „speedy resolution” with striking transit workers.

André Cornellier, president of the transit union, spoke with CTV News yesterday and observed that there was nothing wrong with inconveniencing people during a strike. „It’s about walking the picket line, stopping people from coming in like they would on a normal day. Inconveniencing people, what’s wrong with that?” said Cornellier. A group of OC Transpo workers have picketed outside Ottawa City Hall for two days in a row and their action has led to further delays and congestions for already frustrated drivers arriving to Ottawa from the suburbs during the morning rush hour. A number of Ottawa residents heaped scorn on the picketers, hurling insults and swear words their way.

More than 350,000 Ottawa residents ride on OC Transpo buses every day. The transit service operates approximately 250 bus routes, as well as the O-Train light rail route.

The OC Transpo strike revolves around a dispute concerning salary increases between the City of Ottawa and the Amalgamated Transit Union. The municipal government has offered a 7 percent increase, but union representatives are demanding a 10 percent raise.

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Canadian Hungarian Journal