Commuters aren't safe from a transit strike just yet as TTC workers are said to be arguing over the details of their latest contract offer.
It's been barely a week since Toronto Transit Commission management and its unions came to an 11th hour deal that averted a strike Monday.
At a meeting Wednesday night, more than a dozen union executive board members walked out of a meeting where the contract details were being discussed. They are said to be deeply divided about the tentative contract going into the vote Friday.
"I haven't decided yet (how I will vote) but most likely, I will vote against it," said bus driver Louie Messina. "It's not really clarified, there are a lot of discrepancies. We'll just have to see what happens."
However, Paul Menn, another TTC bus driver, said he'll vote for the contract because he likes the agreement.
The tentative deal that was reached on Sunday essentially makes transit workers in the city the highest paid in the Greater Toronto Area. The workers will receive a three per cent pay hike every year for three years.
But maintenance workers are upset about management's ability to contract out work. Others say they're mad about having to go before a committee to make their case when they are seeking compensation for sick days.
Adam Giambrone, chair of the TTC, said he'd be surprised if the union turned down the deal.
"It's going to be up to union workers but generally collective agreements are ratified with very high percentages," he said. "There's always people who feel upset. I mean you never get 100 per cent in any election or any referendum and we'll have to wait and see but we're confident the union will go ahead and ratify."
TTC vice-chairman Joe Mihevc said the deal is the best one that could be made considering how cash-strapped the city is.
"We've put forward the most generous offer that we possibly can, and we don't have a lot of money to give out," he said. "We've found that sweet spot between what is affordable and what the union needs to be able to sell it to their members."
With reports from CTV Toronto's Matet Nebres and Alicia Kay-Markson
