DriveTest Strike To End Monday

It’s good news for anxious, would-be drivers: the DriveTest strike will officially end on Monday.
Late on Thursday evening, employees voted to ratify an agreement that was hammered out nearly two weeks ago.

Votes for the December 18 deal between the United Steelworkers Local 9511 and Serco DES Inc. were tallied at the USW district office.

The job action lasted four long months, preventing Ontario residents from getting new drivers’ licenses and having their existing licenses renewed.

Employees have been off the job since August 21.

Most centres are scheduled to open for business on January 4, while DriveTest “travel points” will open on January 5.

The backlog of exams is expected to take months to clear. Serco DES Inc is planning to hire roughly 100 new employees to deal with the surge in demand.

The details of the agreement are being kept under wraps, but the strike was triggered by a demand for protection on full-time jobs, as well as wages and benefits.

Serco operates 55 full-time examination centres in Ontario and 38 part-time locations.

DriveTest Strike is OVER! We resume our business!

An agreement has been reached in the province-wide DriveTest strike on Saturday morning. DriveTest says the deal reached with the union is subject to ratification by nearly 600 employees. Full resumption of services is expected on January 5 next year. DriveTest examiners have been on strike since Aug. 21.

On DriveTest Strike, Liberals Dither, Delay and Deny Action

(December 11, 2009) Progressive Conservative MPP Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey) says the McGuinty Liberals are dithering, delaying and denying action when it comes to ending Ontario’s 17 week old DriveTest strike. In Question Period Thursday, Wilson appealed to the government to pass his back-to-work bill so that driving instructors, small businesses and truck drivers aren’t forced out of work before Christmas.

“What makes you think that doing nothing is a fair option for the people affected by this strike,” asked Wilson in his exchange with the Minister of Labour. “Why is the government being so ignorant to the plight of these people?”

On November 23rd Wilson introduced a Private Member’s Bill in the Legislature that would end the DriveTest strike that has been allowed to go on since August 24th. Last week, on November 30th, hundreds protested on the front lawns of the legislature to protest the McGuinty government’s failure to intervene in the strike that is putting the jobs of some 10,000 driving instructors at risk.

“After today, there will be no legislative means available to end the DriveTest strike,” Wilson told the Minister on the last day of the legislative session. “By the time this House returns in mid-February, more driving instructors will be out of work, driving schools will be forced to close their doors, new immigrants won’t be able to get the jobs they were promised when they came to this country and truck drivers won’t be able to upgrade their skills.”

Two weeks ago, Progressive Conservative Transportation Critic Frank Klees (Newmarket-Aurora) asked for unanimous consent in the House for Wilson’s bill to receive speedy passage. Regrettably, the Liberals again refused to act on this pressing matter.

Four months? Time to end DriveTest strike

Of course, I understand that DriveTest employees have a worthwhile cause. I understand that they are striking for job security, etc. But four months? Enough is enough. I am a Grade 12 student at Brantford Collegiate Institute. I am currently working two jobs in order to save enough money to attend university this coming September. I have trouble getting to my jobs due to transportation issues. I play on soccer teams year round as well. I am also a co-op student, which means that Monday to Friday I have to find a way to my placement and then back home.

Unfortunately, there are no city bus routes in Brant County where I live, therefore making my situation ridiculous. I have rebooked my road test seven times, and I just made it eight when my road test was cancelled again last month. I have been eligible to get my licence and a car since the beginning of the DriveTest strike in August. I have a feeling that my parents are forever going to be my taxi drivers. Needless to say, they are getting tired of driving me everywhere. I am becoming a nuisance to my family, especially with the price of gas.

I spent $600 on driving school, for what? So that I can forget everything that I have learned and I have to pay $125 for a one-hour "refresher" lesson before my road test. Sadly, my money doesn't just grow on trees. I am also aware that there are more than just "some" of Ontarians experiencing the same frustration. Thousands of people need a licence to get to work, school, and everything else you can think of. It's time that this strike actually ended. Negotiations need, and have, to be made immediately. I'm sure I'm not the only person who is sick and tired of waiting.

And to the DriveTest employees: I understand what you're working towards, it isn't your fault. You're clearly not the problem here. It is your right to want to better your working conditions. I wish you all good luck.

Victoria Readings Brant County

MPP seeks to curb DriveTest operator

Peter Tabuns, the NDP member of provincial Parliament for Toronto-Danforth, has called on the ministry of transportation to cut ties with the company embroiled in the current DriveTest strike.

http://www.torontoobserver.ca/2009/12/10/mpp-seeks-to-curb-drivetest-contract/

Globalive Welcomes Gov't of Canada Decision and Prepares to Bring WIND Mobile to Market

This is off topic, but greatest change to wireless world in Canada, 3 Big will finally get some real competition. Globalive brings new brand to service (WIND Mobile).

TORONTO – December 11, 2009 – WIND Mobile declared a new day for wireless in Canada today, in response to an announcement made by the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, to vary a recent decision of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

The Government of Canada variance is effective immediately and provides a clear path for WIND Mobile to enter the Canadian wireless market and to become Canada’s first national wireless alternative in over a decade.

About Globalive and WIND Mobile

Globalive provides voice, text and data services to Canadians under the brand name WIND on a next-generation wireless network and is committed to offering a level of wireless service presently not available in Canada. WIND is built on actual conversations that are happening with Canadians who are passionate about wireless and creating a better mobile offering nationally.

If you are going to sign new contract with Rogers/Bell/Telus, wait, WIND Mobile is coming as early as next week.

Serco DES (DriveTest) and the Union met on December 9th

The Union and the Company met on December 9, 2009. Proposals were exchanged between the parties. Bargaining is to continue on Dec 17, and 18, 2009.

Union talks with DriveTest (SERCO DES) to resume today

The bargaining committee is scheduled to reconvene at the bargaining table with the Employer on Wednesday December 9th at 10:30am

Twelve DriveTest centers now open

TORONTO — DriveTest will open four more centres for limited services beginning today, bringing the number of centres open in Ontario to 12.

DriveTest had opened six centres using only managers, and the latest will be run by a mix of managers and striking employees.

The new centres opening today are in Kingston, St. Catharines, Bancroft and Ottawa (Walkley Road).

They will provide written license tests, road tests for commercial licenses and out-of-province and out-of-country license exchanges.

• Bancroft
• Barrie
• Brampton
• Chatham
• Kingston
• Kitchener
• North Bay (Closed at noon on Fridays)
• Ottawa Canotek
• Ottawa Walkley
• St. Catherines
• Thunder Bay (Closed at noon on Fridays)
• Toronto Port Union

DriveTest to open four more centres

The Canadian Press

TORONTO — DriveTest will open four more centres for limited services beginning Monday, bringing the number of centres open in Ontario to 12.

DriveTest had originally opened six centres using only management employees and is expanding this number using a mix of management employees and striking employees who have returned to work.

The new centres opening Monday will be Kingston, St. Catharines, Bancroft and Ottawa Walkley Road.

Centres previously opened are Barrie and Chatham, Ottawa Canotek, Kitchener, North Bay, Thunder Bay, Brampton and Toronto Port Union.
The only services provided will be written tests for all classes of licence, road tests for commercial classified licences and out-of-province and out-of-country licence exchanges.

The strike affects 93 full-time and part-time DriveTest sites, which grant or renew licenses to novice drivers and those over 80.

DriveTest hiring 100 despite strike

With its staff still on the picket lines, DriveTest is hiring.

More than three months into a strike by the United Steelworkers Local 9511, the agency in charge of the province's driver's exams has announced it is hiring more examiners and inside staff.

But Serco DES stressed the positions will only start after the more-than 14-week-old strike ends.

The approximately 100 new people would normally be hired due to attrition in the spring but the company is hiring early to ensure they are ready for a rush of testing once the labour disruption is resolved, said Paul Dalglish, managing director of Drive- Test.

The company is allowing an employee who wishes to cross the picket lines to come back to work, Dalglish said yesterday.

Enough are expected to cross that the company should have more centres open Monday to offer testing for commercial drivers and other high priority groups, he said.

The company has been offering some services for three weeks despite the strike but young drivers and seniors still remain shut out from road tests. So far, the company estimates 200,000 people haven't been served during the strike.

"We're very anxious to see this strike over," Dalglish said, adding both sides have been talking to the mediator.

Local 9511 president Jim Young said his membership is aware the company is hiring but is still manning and maintaining picket lines.

"We are in the same position as we were two weeks ago, we're still in the strike position," Young said.

Despite the length of the strike, Young said most of his membership remains committed to getting a fair and equitable agreement.

Strike continues. Meanwhile DriveTest hiring new workers to replace striking employees.

DriveTest strike continues, but Serco DES (DriveTest) seems trying to get service running again.
They invite striking DriveTest employees to cross the picket line (see my previous post). Also they placed online application on they web site for Customer Service agents and Driving examiners.


DriveTest is hiring permanent employees to address normal attrition as well to reduce the backlog of work that has built-up during the labour disruption. We will be keeping the newly hired employees after the backlog is eliminated. We are looking for new employees at DriveTest locations across Ontario. Do you have great customer service skills? We need you. These are permanent roles and not "replacement workers" hired to provide services during the strike.

Job Types

Driver Examiner
Customer Service Agent

Locations

Southwest
Eastern
South Central
Central
North Central
Northern

See more information here

DriveTest (SERCO DES) offers employees return to work

DriveTest Q&A Regarding Returning to Work During the Strike – December 1, 2009

Q: Can employees cross the picket line and return to work before the strike is over?

A: Yes. Under Section 80 of the Labour Relations Act, employers have an obligation to allow striking employees to return to work if they so desire. This was not the case prior to our partial resumption of services using the management staff because we had shut-down our operations.

Regardless of our obligation under the Labour Relations Act, we welcome all employees who want to return to work. This strike has gone on far too long and we have a growing desire to stop the harm this strike is causing the public. We also know this is hurting many of our employees and we want to put an end to that as well. We welcome back any employees who want to help us achieve this. By the same token, we fully respect the right of employees who would prefer to continue striking.

If you are interested in returning to work before the strike ends, please send a note to the confidential email address employee.questions@drivetest.ca. We will respond with further information. We will continue opening more DriveTest Centres across the province. Therefore, please indicate what other Centres, other than your home Centre, you would be willing to work at if that is an option for you. If you have any restrictions on your return to work (e.g. you have another job that you have to give notice for), please indicate that as well.

If you do not have access to email, please fax your information to 613-482-4546 or mail it to 5000 Yonge St, Suite 1402, Toronto, ON M2N 7E9.
Q: The USW has said that they will take back all of the strike pay that was paid to any employee who crosses the picket line. Can they do that?

A: No. Although the USW constitution says that they can fine people for crossing the picket line, the Ontario Court of Appeal determined that these fines were not enforceable in Ontario. This decision was upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada. Practically speaking, the union would have no way of doing this anyway since the company is the one that makes all payroll deductions for the union, and we would not make unallowable deductions.

Despite the fact that the USW is well aware of this decision by the courts, we suspect that the USW will tell you they can and will do this. So you should find the right answer yourself. You will find a lot of information on this court decision by Googling “Birch Luberti Union”. Below is an excerpt from one of the summaries of this case:

4/2/2009 - Ontario Court of Appeal refuses to enforce union fines against members for crossing picket line

Jeffrey Birch and April Luberti were employees of the Canada Revenue Agency and members of the Union of Taxation Employees, a component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (referred to collectively as the "Union"). In the fall of 2004, Mr. Birch and Ms. Luberti crossed a picket line to attend work for three days during a legal strike which lasted a total of seven days. The union brought disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Birch and Ms. Luberti for violating its constitution by working during a legal strike.

The Ontario Court of Appeal confirmed that Ontario courts will not enforce unconscionable penalty clauses in union constitutions which levy fines against union members for crossing picket lines during legal strikes.
Q: What will happen if I cross and my fellow employees harass me or my family?

A: To do this would be a very serious offence under the criminal code that can result in imprisonment for up to 10 years. Two sections of the criminal code cover this sort of behaviour. One is called “Criminal Harassment” under Section 264, and the other is called “Intimidation” under Section 423. Excerpts of these criminal code sections are included below:

264 - Criminal Harrassment (10 Years Imprisonment)
(1) No person shall….in conduct referred to in subsection (2) that causes that other person reasonably… to fear for their safety or the safety of anyone known to them.
(2) The conduct mentioned in subsection (1) consists of
(a) repeatedly following from place to place the other person or anyone known to them;
(b) repeatedly communicating with, either directly or indirectly, the other person or anyone known to them;
(c) besetting or watching the dwelling-house, or place where the other person, or anyone known to them, resides, works, carries on business or happens to be; or
(d) engaging in threatening conduct directed at the other person or any member of their family.
(3) Every person who contravenes this section is guilty of
(a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years; or
(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

423 - Intimidation (5 Year Imprisonment)
(1) Every one is guilty of an indictable offence who….for the purpose of compelling another person to abstain from doing anything that he or she has a lawful right to do….
(a) uses violence or threats of violence to that person or his or her spouse or common-law partner or children, or injures his or her property;
(b) intimidates or attempts to intimidate that person or a relative of that person by threats that… violence or other injury will be done to or punishment inflicted on him or her or a relative of his or hers, or that the property of any of them will be damaged;
(c) persistently follows that person;….
(e) with one or more other persons, follows that person, in a disorderly manner, on a highway;
(f) besets or watches the place where that person resides, works, carries on business or happens to be; or
(g) blocks or obstructs a highway.
Q: What happens when I am alienated and find my workplace unbearable to work in and nothing can be done to fix it?

A: After an agreement to end the strike is reached, and before employees return to work, the company and the union will lay-out a “return to work protocol” that deals with some issues related to the orderly resumption of business. One term that is commonly included in a return to work protocol is a prohibition on any employee intimidating or coercing a person because of their participation in, or failure to participate in, the strike. It would be our intention to seek inclusion of such a clause in any return to work protocol. This is something that would be good for both the company and the employees.

It is also worth noting that a lack of agreement on a return to work protocol cannot be the reason for continuing a strike. The Labour Board has found that this constitutes “bad faith bargaining”, which is illegal.

PC Caucus Urges End to DriveTest Strike

Liberal Provincial Government holds the responsibility for the DriveTest strike.

It's time for the government to step in and force a resolution of this 'too long going' strike. We are in fourth month of this strike and the union and the company are far apart on the issues and they not going to come back to the table and start negotiating. Meanwhile, Labour Minister Peter Fonseca says he understands the work stoppage has inconvenienced many, but insists the most productive solution is a negotiated settlement with the help of government mediators. 'Inconvenienced' that how the Liberals see that strike, while it's already affected about 10,000 driving instructors in the province. We are in deepest recession for over decades and all governments over the word trying to dig out from the deep hole. However our Liberals don't understand the importance of every small business contribution into GDP. Thousands people are left with little or no income and can't treat their families with some presents for Christmas. What's going on with you Mr. McGuinty? Oh, of course it's much easier to press harder to introduce HST tax, which is hated by every sensible person in this province, than do some real things which would boost our economy. People of Ontario, remember you elected Liberals and you are not being treated as you deserve. Four month of strike is just an 'inconvenience' how fair is that statement? Oh, well, I hope we will have better government next time.

Labour minister won’t halt DriveTest strike

Ontario’s labour minister says he not will force an end to the DriveTest strike despite a nearly four-month dispute.

Labour Minister Peter Fonseca says he understands the work stoppage has inconvenienced many, but insists the most productive solution is a negotiated settlement with the help of government mediators. Earlier this month, the striking workers rejected the employer’s latest contract offer, with 78 per cent voting against it.

Dozens of driving instructors gathered at the provincial legislature to protest what they call the government’s inaction.

They say the dispute — which centres around job security — is bankrupting small businesses and keeping thousands from getting their driver’s licences. 

Driving Instructors Rally At Queen’s Park, Want Provincial Drive Test Centres To Reopen

Three months after Drive Test employees walked off the job, driving instructors are holding a rally at Queen’s Park.

“It's affecting us very badly,” said one woman at the protest. She has been a driving instructor for 27 years.

“About 10,000 instructors in Ontario are financially very hard hit. We have no work. We are educators; we are supposed to be teaching.”

The strike began on August 21, preventing new motorists from acquiring a license.

"Most Ontarians are not even aware that the strike has stretched for 100 days," the instructor added.

That put hundreds of people who teach driving out of a job and on Monday, they took their protest to the Ontario government.

The instructors have at least one ally: Progressive Conservative MPP Jim Wilson introduced a private members bill last week that would force 600 employees back to work.

The legislation, called the DriveTest Labour Dispute Resolution Act, 2009 would force DriveTest operator, Serco-Des Inc., and the United Steelworkers Local 9511 to resolve their dispute through binding arbitration.

Liberal and NDP MPPs abstained from voting.

Rally at Queen's Park Mon Nov 30th to end Drivetest Strike

Here is some info for all, please feel free to come if you can make it. Bring signs and let the government know you want and end to this strike! I would not normally contact you from the petition site but I felt all needed to know what was going on. Sorry if you already had this info. I am attaching a file in notepad that has all the Liberal MPP's email addresses in it. Please feel free to email them to tell them how you feel about the strike and encourage them to pass Bill 225, This is the first and last time I contact you from the petition emails. Thanks for your support. Please read the press release below. Best wishes,


Press Release



On Monday November 30th beginning at 8:00 am Driving Instructors from across Ontario will converge on Queen's Park for a rally in protest of the lingering Drivetest examiner's strike. MPP Frank Klees (Conservative transportation critic), has assured us that he will be speaking on our behalf at Queens Park. Over 10,000 driving instructors and driving school owners have been silently suffering due to the impasse in bargaining which has been going on since August. They are in very serious financial difficulty. They are prepared to take their position to the legislature and confront the liberal government on Monday and rally in support of MPP Jim Wilson's bill to end the strike. MPP Wilson stood in the legislature and said, "Dalton McGuinty has already overseen the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs,… Ontario can't afford to see driving instructors and training schools lay off staff, nor can we support the inability of young people to get a license so they can get a job." The driving instructors of Ontario will be at Queen's Park Nov. 30th to support quick passage of MPP Wilson's bill.

PROTEST(RALLY) AT QUEENS PARK -TO END ONGOING DRIVETEST STRIKE

All the driving instructors of ontario are planning big protest rally on 30-11-2009 at queens park to end ongoing drivetest examiners strike so we request all the ontarions to come forward and support us. You can come and join us at queens park or call ur local MPPs to vote in favour of Back TO Work bill .For more information visit LINK

Picketing examiner being charged with uttering a death threat

Last week, tensions between picketers and truck-driving students – taking drive tests at a supervisor-staffed site in Lindsay – resulted in a one picketing examiner being charged with uttering a death threat.

The trucking industry has also been hard hit by the strike. Jay Poothappillai, owner of Jay's Professional Truck Training Centre in Scarborough, said he has 40 students waiting for tests. "I don't know why the government isn't doing anything," he said.

His students were the ones blocked from takings tests in Lindsay. "It was a really bad, ugly scene."

The Kawartha Lakes Police Service confirmed one worker was charged with uttering a death threat.

Local MPP tables bill to end DriveTest strike

Progressive Conservative MPP Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey) introduced legislation today that would end the 14 week old strike between DriveTest and its 600 employees.

The bill passed First Reading by a vote of 14-0, with Liberal and NDP MPPs abstaining.

"More than 368,000 people have been negatively impacted by this strike," said Wilson. "With each passing day thousands more are held back from getting a job because they can't get a drivers license. It's hurting our economy."

If passed, the DriveTest Labour Dispute Resolution Act would send the 600 employees back to work right away, while DriveTest operator, Serco-Des Inc., and the United Steelworkers Local 9511 would resolve their dispute through binding arbitration.

The DriveTest office in Barrie re-opened Monday with limited services being offered.

"Jobs are being lost because truck drivers can't upgrade their licences, new drivers can't get licences with the result that they can't get jobs, and they can't enroll in new job training or college programs," said Frank Klees, Progressive Conservative Critic for Transportation and Infrastructure, who has been after the McGuinty government to resolve this matter since it began.

Three months DriveTest strike continues. How long will it go?

Truckers, unable to obtain or renew their licences, rally against the DriveTest strike this month at the Ontario legislature.

A rally is planned for Nov. 30

A rally is planned for Nov. 30 when driving instructors from across the province plan to head to Queen's Park to issue a call for government action to end the dispute.

Fourteen weeks and counting...

DriveTest employees Corin Visinski, left, and Doris Price continue to picket outside the Renfrew DriveTest office on Plaunt Street as the labour dispute enters its 14th week

Is it fair for thousands of individuals to be punished for the preference of a mere 590? Over 11 weeks ago, 590 DriveTest employees all over Ontario walked off the job, demanding improved job security. Every day from that point on, 4,000 people have been unable to obtain their licences.

That's not even taking into the account the effect of the strike on the families of those unable to obtain their licences; in total, well over a quarter of a million people have been affected by the selfishness of just over 500 individuals. Students and other people all over the province are all presently unable to obtain their licences, many of them consequently unable to get jobs.

Limited servicess offered at 6 DriveTest centers in Ontario

The only DriveTest Centres that will be open are:

• Brampton
• Toronto Port Union
• Ottawa Canotek Road
• Kitchener
• North Bay, and
• Thunder Bay

Services:

• Written tests for all classes of license,
• Road tests for commercial classified licenses, and
• Out-of-Province and Out-of-Country license exchanges


Road tests will not be provided at this time for any non-commercial licenses such as the G2 or G road tests.

Road Test appointments currently booked in this system will not be honored.

DriveTest strike raises hard questions

...
Even so, this strike cannot help but raise difficult questions for the company, its employees, the government and, most important, for the people of Ontario. Is it right that employees of a private company should have a monopoly on a public service and be able stop Ontarians from having access to that service?

...

http://news.therecord.com/Opinions/Editorials/article/629061

Comment from DriveTest employee on the strike.

I am a drivetest employee and I can't believe how me and my coworkers are threatened, intimidated, coersed and bribed ($400 cash per week strike pay for 24 hours picketing) into supporting this stupid strike. The union give you ballots to vote on the offer but you have to put your name on the envelope so they know who you are. The USW tells us there are all sort of scary things in the company offer but I read it and it doesn't say what they say it does. Then in the middle of all this they tell me to go vote for the head guy at the USW who is going to lose his job in the coming elections. Is that the real reason we are on strike??? I thought unions were supposed to protect workers...not play games with them.

City TV


One more:

I too am an emplyee of Serco. The vote was a joke. One box going from city to city.AH AH. Serco cannot fight employees who do not want to return to work for them.
The union wants us back with MTO and MTO does not want us. So we are really out of luck. I would love to see the offices reopen and to see how many of us would be back to work. I think this is the only way to see if the 78 percent of employees really voted against the contract

Now we have official information on partial resumption of DriveTest services starting Today

Important Information on the Partial Resumption of DriveTest Services November 12, 2009

Due to the ongoing labour disruption, DriveTest will only be providing very limited services at six of our DriveTest Centres.

DriveTest will only be serving customers who need their licenses for employment or if they have registered for driver training. Customers should be prepared to substantiate that they need their license for employment or training purposes. For those customers, the only services provided will be:

• Written tests for all classes of license,
• Road tests for commercial classified licenses, and
• Out-of-Province and Out-of-Country license exchanges

Road tests will not be provided at this time for any non-commercial licenses such as the G2 or G road tests. Road Test appointments currently booked in this system will not be honored until the strike is over and services have fully resumed. If you have a road test booked, it will be cancelled automatically without penalty.

Any customer who holds a license that expired on or after August 24, 2009 will continue to be covered under the automatic license extension put in place by the MTO. Therefore, these customers do not need to come to a DriveTest Centre at this time.

The only DriveTest Centres that will be open are:
• Brampton
• Toronto Port Union
• Ottawa Canotek Road
• Kitchener
• North Bay, and
• Thunder Bay

http://www.drivetest.ca/

Some GTA Testing Centres Open As DriveTest Strike Continues

Paul Dalglish, managing director of DriveTest, said two testing centres in the GTA will open Thursday staffed by existing managers. One is in Brampton and the other in Toronto (see location details below).

Four other testing centres in Ottawa, Kitchener, North Bay and Thunder Bay will also open their doors.

Service at these sites is limited to drivers who need their licences for employment or who’ve registered for driver training. Here’s what DriveTest will be offering during the strike:
Written tests for all classes of licence,
Road tests for commercial classified licences only, and
Out-of-province and out-of-country licence exchanges.

DriveTest won’t be conducting G2, G or D1 licence road tests.

The local union chief said striking workers will do their best to stop employees from entering test centres. Job security and seniority issues continue to be a sticking point.

“We are very disappointed that our employees voted to reject our offer”, Dalglish said in a statement Thursday. “We would be keen to get back to the bargaining table if we thought the USW was serious about trying to reach an agreement. However, the last time they presented a response to our offer it included at least 10 brand new demands. That’s not the way good faith bargaining is supposed to work.”

The Truck Training Schools Association organized a protest earlier this month at Queen’s Park, demanding an end to the strike.

Trucking and driving schools have been hit hard by the job action and are scrambling to stay afloat amid low enrollment numbers and sagging profits.

Here's a look at the two GTA DriveTest locations:

Toronto, Port Union
The Village of Abbey Lane Shopping Centre
91 Rylander Blvd., Unit #109A
Scarborough

Brampton
59 First Gulf Blvd, Unit #9
Brampton

What can I say: No DriveTest strike END :(

November 11, 2009

Members of USW Local 9511,

Regarding:      Results of Vote on Employer’s Final Offer and Press Release One

The Membership of USW Local 9511 has given a resounding NO to the Employer’s latest offer. A vote tally was conducted on November 11, 2009 and 78% voted against the Employer’s Final Offer that was presented to the Union on November 1, 2009.

There was an increase in the total number of ballots received from our Membership for this second “FINAL OFFER” the Employer presented.  The 78% represents an increase of 4% above the Employer’s original “FINAL OFFER” vote.

After 12 weeks into this labour disruption/STRIKE, this sends a strong message to Serco DES Inc. (DRIVETEST) that our Membership is more determined to establish what is fair and right. We can only hope that they will finally LISTEN to their Employees, quit playing counter-productive games and negotiate a fair contract to get their Employees back to work.  There must be change. The Bargaining Committee remains committed to obtaining a fair and equitable Collective Agreement for all our Members. The only way that we can effectively do this is with the continued support of the Membership.  See you on the picket lines and remember we will last one day longer than the Employer.

Working in Solidarity,

Jim Young 

The voting results will be announced on Wednesday November 11, 2009.

DriveTest employees are voting on the final offer from their employer, Serco DES Inc.
The final outcome of the vote will be announced on Wednesday November 11, 2009.

Truck driving instructors and students say Ont. DriveTest strike is killing jobs

These are people that have lost their jobs in the past in the manufacturing industry and they thought trucking would be a good career for them, yet they come in only to find out there's another set back - they cannot go for road tests," said Gus Rahim, president of the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario.




The strike is also affecting instructors who are getting laid off because enrolment has come almost to a standstill, and opposition parties say it's time for the government to step in to force an end to the strike.


Premier Dalton McGuinty said the government was encouraging both sides in the dispute to come to an agreement but wouldn't get involved in the negotiations.


Labour Minister Peter Fonseca insisted the government must let the collective bargaining process take its course, despite any inconveniences.


http://www.cjbk.com/news/14/1016904

Final Serco's offer the employees will vote on

Final offer from Serco

DriveTest Employees to vote on Serco's offer

This Thursday and Friday (Nov.5th and 6th) they are going to vote on 'final offer' from Serco. Union indicates that they wanted to REJECT the offer, but finally allow members to vote on it. They will have pre-vote meeting to urge employees to vote against the offer.

Read more...

Striking Driving Examiners Expected To Vote Against Latest Offer

There appears to be no end in sight to the strike by Ontario’s driving examiners, now heading into the 10th week, as frustration continues to grow for would-be motorists and driving school owners try to cope with dismal enrollment numbers and dwindling profits.
...
Local union president Jim Young said the employer submitted a final offer and members are set to vote on it later this week, but the results aren’t expected to be good.


City news...

DriveTest Gives Striking Workers "Final Offer"

Locals hopeful that a strike by DriveTest employees would end today are out of luck. The strike of nearly 600 employees, including four at the Simcoe office, continues into its 11th week after talks failed to bring any satisfaction over the weekend. The union says Serco DES has given them their "final offer," which is being reject by union leadership. They will still take the offer to their members to vote later this week, but say improvements are minimal.

DriveTest talks resume today

The union and the company for Ontario's driver test centres are headed back to the bargaining table today, 11 weeks into a strike that's frustrated thousands of motorists.


Full story...

Drivers fume as walkout continues

Claire Sorley booked her G2 driving test for Sept. 18. If she passed, it would allow her to drive without being accompanied by a mature licence holder.
Due to DriveTest employees walking off the job in August, her appointment was rescheduled for Oct. 23 and since moved to Nov. 27.

Full story...

Strike drags on leaving potential drivers and their driver trainers frustrated

Thirty new drivers in Kenora and Dryden are backlogged in the DriveTest system waiting for testing, taking their place among 4,000 province-wide since the United Steelworkers 9511 began a strike on Aug. 23. Another 30 are set to start classes this week.
While the DriveTest phone system is re-registering potential driving tests in a ten day cycle in case the strike should end and the number of those waiting across the province builds, however, prospective drivers who can reach the heart of Toronto are still being tested.
According to the provincial Ministry of Transportation, 1,040 G1 and 246 M1 written tests were performed in an outlet on Bay Street; the only remaining publicly owned office after all others were privatized to Serco.
Kenora Young Drivers of Canada centre director Maria Bagdonas sees the practice as discrimination based on geography.
“Why are they only limited to offering it at that location,” she asked. “As a member of the public, I believe I should have the right to go into a Service Ontario post and have at my disposal the same services at each Ontario kiosk and that’s not what’s happening now.”
Although the local Young Driver’s in-car employee’s job is safe for the time being, Bagdonas said private driving training companies are beginning to lay off personnel as the strike drags on.
Jim Young is the president of the Steelworkers 9511. He said holding onto the single outlet in downtown Toronto was a political decision.
“They wanted to keep it for the bigwigs, for the high profile people including the politicians at Queen’s Park,” he said.
The union proposed an indepth plan to Minister of Transportation Jim Bradley, which would have put his membership back to work for the public sector, as further labour negotiations remain unscheduled. The minister declined his proposal.
“In this plan, we proposed setting up satellite locations - maybe not in all 56 permanent locations but in the majority of them - under the guidance of the Ministry of Transportation. Our issue is not with the general public or the businesses, it’s with our employer.”
PC Transportation Critic Frank Klees rose in the legislature on Monday to call on Bradley to resolve the strike, seeing challenges begin to permeate the transportation sector.
“Jobs are being lost because truck drivers can’t upgrade their licences, new drivers can’t get licences with the result that they can’t get jobs, and they can’t enrol in new job training or college programs,” Klees said. “Serco is not meeting its obligations under the contract they have with the province of Ontario … Why has the Minister not stepped in to ensure that they meet those obligations and that Ontarians aren’t held hostage?”


Source...

Drivetest strike causes driver strife

Spencer Roberts

An expired driver's licence can be troublesome. Losing your job because the Drivetest employees are striking is downright upsetting.
Since Aug. 21, Drivetest has been closed, making it impossible to upgrade licences or retake tests in order to receive a licence. Employees of the centres, who are responsible for issuing all new licences in Ontario, went on strike in order to fight for improved wages, more sick days, less overtime and more job security.

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When the company was awarded the $114 million contract in February 2003, Serco Group Chief Executive Christopher Hyman stated "as the new service provider, we will focus on delivering quality services in our day-to-day operations, so the government can focus on road safety policy priorities".
Critics of the strike claim that Drivestest employees need to be more aware of the impact of their actions. Amar Sihra is one of those critics.
"I would like to ask them how the strikers would get to their strike with no licence."

Full story ...

End to strike demanded

Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop has called on the government to do more than just end a strike that has put the brakes on driving tests in the province.

Dunlop raised the issue of the DriveTest strike this week at Queen's Park. He said he has been asked by a number of people affected by the strike to help out.
He said it is "the government's duty to step in and not only end the neglect of public safety, but also assist our Ontario residents in continuing their livelihoods by achieving a fair and equitable settlement."
"Every group is affected. Our youth cannot obtain their drivers' licences at all. Numerous other individuals of all ages cannot renew or retry their licence. Livelihoods are being seriously compromised," he said. "Out-of-province or out-of-country new residents cannot exchange or apply for their Ontario licence and, without that licence, cannot buy or insure a vehicle."
Driving schools are losing business and their employees are losing jobs, he added.
The Liberal government also recently heard from the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario.
The association's president, Gus Rahim, wrote a letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty. In the letter, Rahim tells McGuinty of "the catastrophic effects of the now eight-week-long strike by DriveTest (Serca DES, Inc.) on the driver training industry."
"Our programs are now virtually at a standstill, with fully-trained students waiting to start on a new career path, employers desperate to fill vacancies, and our own employees and staff facing massive layoffs," Rahim said. "Many students are now on extended EI benefits, struggling to feed their families, and further straining the resources of Ontario's social assistance network."
Job loss is one of the concerns that was raised also by Dunlop.
"In this time of high unemployment and uncertainty, adding to the problem.
"This strike is not about money. Employees are seeking security -- a minimum number of hours a week without the threat of supervisors doing the work of employees."

Sign a petition! Stop the strike!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/579779635

All DriveTest strike news in one place

No end to the strike yet.

Read more stories:

http://recorder.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2141691
http://www.trucknews.com/video/transportationmatters78.asp

We are two months in the strike now

Two months ago DriveTest centers were closed for strike.

http://video.vancouver.24hrs.ca/archive/source/ottawa-sun/drivetest-strike-drags-into-7th-week/43860721001

No deal in sight in ongoing DriveTest strike

An average of 20 would-be drivers visit the Port Union DriveTest branch every day, despite it being seven weeks since DriveTest employees walked off their jobs.

While the strike has been dubbed “the forgotten protest” or “the strike that nobody cares about,” DriveTest estimates that each day since the strike began about 4,000 people have been unable to obtain their licences.

“Until there’s a public uproar nothing will happen,” said one picket at the Port Union DriveTest location.

Full story...

Read my blog - don't spend time on searching DriveTest strike news!

I just want to update everyone on the blog.
I am looking for the DriveTest strike news every day and select one or two most informative articles and post them here.
I'm trying to keep my blog up-to-date as much as I can.

Hope we will be busy again soon. This strike is created a lot of inconveniences to all of us.
As per the Road Tests after strike: I will do my best to process all the Road Tests ASAP.

Yours, Road Test Booking Service.

Drive Test strike frustrates many

The stories of inconvenience resulting from the ongoing strike of DriveTest driving examiners are starting to surface and Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop is going to try to garner some political attention to the issue.

"I'm going to try and read a statement into the legislature next week," Dunlop said yesterday.

Full story...

Mixed signals in DriveTest strike

Patience is the only thing being tested as the province's DriveTest strike rolls into its eighth week.

DriveTest, a private firm in charge of driving tests throughout Ontario, has been besieged since Aug. 21.

Yesterday, United Steelworkers Local 9511, the union representing the company's employees, held a membership meeting in Mississauga to counter the owner of the firm, Serco DES Inc., directly sending details of its offer to staff on Friday.

Full story...

Some nice video 'rant'

No New Talks In DriveTest Strike

It’s bad news for those looking to get their license: the DriveTest strike has now entered its eighth week, and no new talks are scheduled.

Ontario’s driving inspectors walked off the job on August 21.

The United Steelworkers Local 9511, which represents the 500 examiners, and Serco, which operates 55 full-time examination centres and 38 part-time locations, haven’t met since Saturday.

That’s when a mediator decided both sides needed a cooling-off period.

At issue are claims of dwindling hours and insufficient job protection.

Serco acquired the right to provide driver examination services from MTO in September 2003 for a 10-year term for the sum of $114 million after the decision was made to privatize the service.

All road tests have been cancelled and would-be drivers will eventually be allowed to reschedule without any penalty.

If all you need is a license renewal, don’t worry: The Ministry of Transportation has extended your expiry until after the end of the labour disruption. You do not need to do anything to ensure that your license remains valid at this time.

Please Help Resolve The Drivetest Strike!

The petition:

Dear Premier Dalton McGuinty and Minister of Transportation Jim Bradley,

We, the undersigned are petitioning you to act now and help resolve the strike at Drivetest. This strike has gone on long enough with no help from the government. All vehicle training schools, commercial drivers with expired licences, trucking industry, roadtest applicants and close to 80 000 new G1 applicants are being affected by your inaction during this strike. We need your governments help now if our industries are to survive!


Sign the petition here:  http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/driveteststrike/index.html

Early Road Test Booking Service

Breaking news

Paul Dalglish: - "We met yesterday with the union and tabled an offer that we hoped would move us toward a  conclusion to the dispute. Unfortunately, that offer was rejected by the USW and the Local Bargaining Team. They replied with a response that didn’t (from our perspective) look like it was moving us toward conclusion. We therefore just responded through their Chief Negotiator from the USW, Marie Kelly – Wayne Fraser’s Assistant Director."

Looks like we are again at point nowhere.

http://www.drivetest.ca/Employees/Letter_to_Employees_2009_10_09.pdf

Talks resume in DriveTest strike

Talks resumed Thursday between the United Steelworkers Union (USW) and DriveTest. The strike has dragged on since Aug. 21, a protest over job security and health and safety issues.

A government-appointed mediator has been assigned to negotiations.
Last week the USW staged a rally at Queen's Park asking the government to bypass DriveTest and allow the USW to provide driver examination services directly to Canadian drivers.
Their request was denied by transportation minister Jim Bradley.
Paul Dalglish, managing director of DriveTest, said union leaders are trying to bypass the collective bargaining process with their requests.
"Drive Test remains focused on restoring service to our customers and getting our employees back to work," Dalglish said.
The DriveTest Call Centre and website remain open so customers can continue to book tests in advance of an end to the strike, he said.
Since the strike began an estimated 4,000 Ontarians a day have had their driving tests cancelled.

Tell us your story: How has the Drive Test strike affected you?

Share your story here:

http://www.torontosun.com/news/2009/10/08/11343411.html

Road Test Booking Service

Hello everyone, I provide a Road Test Booking service in province Ontario, Canada.

As you may already know, DriveTest (Serco) employees on strike since August 21st, 2009. There is no road test accepted at any of the DriveTest centers province wide. The strike is in 7th week now. We all hope the strike will end soon.There is an information about talks starting tomorrow on October 8th between union and DriveTest. 

Please, feel free to join discussion, share information and so on.

Yours, Road Test Booking Service