By SooToday.com Staff
SooToday.com
Thursday, November 12, 2009

Twelve weeks into a strike by Ontario's driver examiners, DriveTest announced today that it has resumed limited service in six Ontario cities: North Bay, Thunder Bay, Brampton, Toronto, Ottawa and Kitchener.

The news comes after the striking Steelworkers voted 78 percent yesterday against management's latest offer.

The following news releases were issued by DriveTest and United Steelworkers Local 9511, representing DriveTest driver examiners and customer service agent across the province.

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DriveTest management employees to resume partial operations today

In an effort to restore some essential services amid the continuing strike by USW employees, management employees at DriveTest will resume partial operations starting today, Thursday, November 12.  

DriveTest will be opening six centres - Brampton, Toronto Port Union, Ottawa Canotek, Kitchener, North Bay and Thunder Bay.

“It is time to take action to minimize the impact this strike is having on so many Ontarians. Our focus before was on negotiating an agreement, but the rejection of our offer by the employees means we now need to move our focus to the resumption of our services,” said Paul Dalglish, managing director of DriveTest. “We will be giving priority to the people whose livelihood has been most impacted by this strike. In doing so, we had to make some difficult choices about where to deploy our limited resources. We hope that these focused efforts can begin to address the hardship this strike has caused.”

DriveTest will offer limited services to customers who need their licenses for employment or who have registered for driver training. 

For these customers, the only services provided will be:

- Written tests for all classes of license.

- Road tests for commercial classified licenses only.

- Out-of-province and out-of-country license exchanges.

DriveTest will not perform any non-commercial road tests at this time. 

DriveTest will not be doing road tests for G2 or G licenses.

Customers who hold a license that expired after August 24 because of the need for a retest are still covered by the automatic license extension put in place by the Ministry of Transportation. 

Therefore, these customers do not need to come to a DriveTest centre at this time. 

DriveTest will not have the need or capacity to serve these customers until the strike ends.

Up-to-date details regarding this partial resumption of service is available at www.DriveTest.ca

DriveTest advises that it is very important that customers check their website for updates and instructions before coming to a DriveTest centre. 

Customers should be prepared to substantiate that they need their license for employment or training purposes.

DriveTest has continued to look for ways to resolve the ongoing dispute with the USW. 

On November 1, DriveTest presented the USW bargaining team with a final offer to settle the strike. 

On the recommendation of the USW, the unionized DriveTest employees voted to reject that offer.

“We have decided it is time to begin addressing the problems that this strike is causing Ontarians without any further delay,” added Mr. Dalglish. “We are therefore starting the process of providing services without the involvement of our unionized employees.”

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DriveTest workers overwhelmingly reject 'unacceptable offer'

TORONTO - (November 11) - At the suggestion of their bargaining committee, the membership of United Steelworkers Local 9511 resoundingly voted no (78 percent) to their employer's "final offer."

This vote also represented an increase in voter turnout from the previous vote on the "original" final offer.

"After 12 weeks of this unnecessary strike, this vote will send a strong message to Serco DES Inc. (Drivetest)," said Jim Young, president of USW Local 9511.

"We can only hope that Serco will finally listen to their employees, quit playing counter-productive games and negotiate a fair contract so the citizens of Ontario can get the quality service they deserve."

For 12 weeks now the union's bargaining committee has been trying to get the employer to propose a reasonable offer that acknowledges the realities on the job and the labour requirements to provide professional, quality service to Ontario's perspective drivers. However, Serco shows little understanding of the concepts of "quality public service" or a "stable, professional workforce."

Upon hearing of the overwhelming vote, Jim Young called on Serco to come back to the bargaining table and propose a reasonable offer and bargain in good faith.

"The picket lines will continue, and the citizens of Ontario will not get the service they deserve, until Serco presents a reasonable offer," said Young.

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