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Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Striking Driving Examiners Set To Vote On Final Offer From DriveTest

2009/11/04 | CityNews.ca Staff

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Striking driving examiners across the province are set to vote on a final offer this week that could end the weeks-long job action.

United Steelworkers Local 9511, which represents the nearly 600 workers, sat down at the bargaining table again this past weekend with the company that runs Ontario’s DriveTest centres.

DriveTest Managing Director Paul Dalglish said his side made “significant concessions” on issues surrounding seniority -- a major sticking point in talks.

“We hope that all employees come out to vote regardless of what their views are.  Employees who don’t vote are letting others decide their fate for them,” Dalglish said in a statement this week.

Earlier this week USW local president Jim Young told CityNews.ca his bargaining committee unanimously voted against the proposal and is recommending his members turn it down, as well.

On Tuesday, trucking school operators fed up with the strike, now in its 10th week, organized a truck convoy that travelled along the 401, QEW and DVP during rush hour and ended at Queen’s Park for a rally.

Driving schools have been hit hard by the job action and have seen enrollment numbers and profits plummet.