By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

impact on students

Students’ Association urges City and transit union to reach deal

Sep 13, 2023 | 4:21 PM

The Students’ Association of Red Deer Polytechnic (SARDP) is wading into the pool that is the possible transit strike.

The City of Red Deer and the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents about 130 workers in Red Deer, are currently in a cooling off period of negotiations.

A strike could not be called until the cooling off period ends on Sept. 15, another vote of the membership is held, and the union gives 72-hour strike notice.

Earlier this month, members held a vote where 99 per cent of ballots were in favour of a potential strike.

“We are keeping a close eye on the situation since more than 10 per cent of our student population depends on transit to commute to school, work and conduct their personal business,” writes Erin Bast, SARDP President.

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“Of that 10 per cent-plus, a substantial number of those students are newcomers to Canada and the city of Red Deer; these students will be particularly impacted by a disruption in transit service, as many of them do not have family or friends they can depend on for alternate transportation.”

Steven Bradshaw, ATU Local 569 president, tells rdnewsNOW on Wednesday that he is optimistic about how negotiations have gone since the story of a potential strike broke on Sept. 6.

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• Strike possibly on the horizon for Red Deer transit workers
• Transit union to hold practice picket Sept. 9

“We are hopeful that the City of Red Deer and ATU Local 569 will come to a resolution this week and we encourage both parties to consider the impact their actions will have on the success of our students at Red Deer Polytechnic,” Bast adds.

ATU members held a practice picket on Sept. 9 in downtown Red Deer.