History of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1320

-- by Julie Craib

Our seniority list has its beginning in 1927, when the first employees were employed by Border Transit Limited, in Peterborough, Ontario.

This Local was granted the Certificate of Affiliation by International President W. D. Mahon on September 24, 1942, and we became known as Division No. 1320 of the Amalgamated Association of Street, Electric Railway and Motor Coach Employes of America. (As spelled on the certificate)

Our 1948-49 Collective Agreement was 4 pages long (one sided), and the wage rates were as follows: Starting Operator: 78 cents/hr

After 3 months: 81 cents/hr

After 6 months: 84 cents/hr

After 9 months: 87 cents/hr

After 12 months: 90 cents/hr

A COLA was added to this. The work week was 48 hours long, with a grand total pay of $43.20, minus deductions.

In June of 1953, our predecessors were trying to bargain an agreement to work a 40 hour week, with the same pay as they were getting for 48 hours. The top Operator rate was $1.45 per hour.

On December 30, 1978, Border Transit was sold to the City of Peterborough, and with successor rights, this Local went with the buses as a package. A few short months after becoming City of Peterborough employees, an attempt was made by C.U.P.E. Local 504, which was already established as representing the City’s truck drivers, mechanics and body men, to absorb our Local. The Ontario Labour Relations Board ruled in our favour, and we remained proudly ATU.

Eventually, under a subsequent claim, the Ontario Labour Relations Board ruled that since our Mechanics were working in the same area as the C.U.P.E. Mechanics, using many of the same tools, and working on the same vehicles, it would make sense for them to become part of C.U.P.E. 504. Since this time, we have made peace with C.U.P.E., and work side by side, as separate Unions, but one brotherhood.

Now our Local is comprised of 58 full and part time drivers, and 4 vehicle service workers. With this small staff, we carry the citizens of Peterborough to work and play, to appointments, and wherever else they want to go. We move over 30,000 passengers per week, and the proposed service expansion is expected to bring us even more passengers and drivers.

We are lucky to have a friendly rapport with our passengers, knowing many of them by name, occupation, and even family history. Some of us have been driving long enough to be carrying the second, third, and even fourth generation.

We are a diverse group, ranging in age from early twenties to retirement age, with interests from computers to music to old cars and semi trucks. We garden, sew, fish and work in wood. What we have in common is an enjoyment of people and driving, and we are proud to be ATU!

On September 26, 2005, we struck the City of Peterborough. This was the only strike in the history of our Local, and it lasted 8 days. Oddly enough, it occurred after we had already reached an agreement for a wage review, and a tentative Collective Agreement. (See 2005 Strike for details) At the time of this writing, we are getting back on track and looking forward to implementing our new Collective Agreement and spending some of that hard earned money.

For some of the background about ATU International please click on the link.

Use your back button to return from the ATU International site to this website.

Return to SITE DIRECTORY