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...
Saturday, October 31, 2009
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...
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...
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
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...
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...
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
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.
....
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."
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.
....
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."
Friday, October 23, 2009
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."
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
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
http://video.vancouver.24hrs.ca/archive/source/ottawa-sun/drivetest-strike-drags-into-7th-week/43860721001
Monday, October 19, 2009
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.
Friday, October 16, 2009
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.
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...
Thursday, October 15, 2009
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.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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
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
Friday, October 9, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
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
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
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