Halifax cancels 75 bus trips, transit union says staff shortages will get worse
Halifax has cancelled an "unprecedented" number of weekday bus trips because of a staffing shortage, the transit worker union said Monday, adding that low hourly wages and gruelling work hours are to blame.
It's never been harder to retain Halifax Transit staff, Shane O'Leary, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 508, said in an interview. Halifax has cancelled 75 out of about 3,970 weekday bus trips in the city, citing a lack of staff.
"I don't think we've ever been so short of (labour) that we had to drop trips like this," O'Leary said, adding that he worries the staffing levels are "going to get worse before getting better."
O'Leary, who's been a transit worker for 23 years, said more and more bus drivers, accessible van drivers and ferry operators in the city are quitting because the pay has not kept up with the rising cost of living and the work hours are long.
It's typical, he added, for many Halifax transit operators to work 60 to 70 hours a week, and he said the hours continue to be extended as workers cover for the lack of drivers in the system. About 40 transit workers have resigned so far in 2022, O'Leary said.
Halifax pays its transit operators $21.45 per hour for training and $22.88 per hour in the first year of work. Operators hit a maximum hourly pay of $28.61 after four years. Operators who drive the city's accessible buses make about $2 less an hour, O'Leary added.
"People are leaving because of the work and because of the wages, and if we don't get better work and better wages they will not be able to staff back up," O'Leary said.
City spokesperson Maggie-Jane Spray said in an email that Halifax is actively recruiting new transit operators with the help of a marketing campaign and regular transit employment information sessions.
O'Leary said the fastest way to improve hiring and retention of transit operators is to offer them a raise, ideally of around 10 per cent. "Something drastic has to be done now," he said.
The city has proposed dates in October to negotiate a new transit operators contract; the current one expired Aug. 31, 2021, O'Leary said. But a clause in the union's contract permits a wage increase at any time if both parties agree, he added.
Spray said the city has no plans to raise transit workers' wages ahead of a new contract.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 8, 2022.
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
Correction
This is a corrected story. A previous version misspelled the last name of city spokesperson Maggie-Jane Spray.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires air defence batteries in provinces as explosions heard near Isfahan
Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning as explosions could be heard near a major air base near Isfahan, raising fears of a possible Israeli strike following Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.