HSR union takes legal action after City keeps vaccine mandate

Hamilton city council voted to keep its worker vaccination mandate on Wednesday.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107 representing HSR employees says about 40 members face job losses this summer and they’re vowing to fight back by filing for arbitration in hopes of saving those employees.

The union says they will get an arbitration date within 30 days. They are calling the policy unfair for all unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or undeclared employees.

Those employees have until May 31st to provide proof of full vaccination.

Amalgamated Transit Union’s Local President Eric Tuck claims the process could cost taxpayers $500-thousand in unnecessary litigation and will exacerbate a labour shortage they already face.

“It takes 6 weeks of training to get an operator up and running, we had difficulty filling up operating positions, we’ve had people retire from these operating positions, and these are the same people who’ve put their lives on the line.”

Tuck says the union would rather see masks and physical distancing mandated on city buses instead of mandatory vaccination.

The city managers’ office responded today saying they expected the action taken by the union and will let arbitration determine the outcome.

The city also added several other unions have filed grievances or have given notice they will do so. The city wouldn’t say how many unions have filed to date.