DriveTest demonstration at Queen's Park
Last Updated: Monday, November 30, 2009 | 3:21 PM ET
CBC News
Driving instructors demonstrate at Queen's Park on Monday morning. They say the ongoing DriveTest Ontario strike is ruining their business. (Mike Crawley/CBC)Driving instructors from across the province descended on Queen's Park on Monday as MPPs considered a private member's bill that would legislate an end to a strike that they say is ruining their businesses.
Examiners from DriveTest Ontario have been off the job for more than three months, virtually ending driving examinations in the province.
The instructors say that with no prospect of an examination, students are not taking driving lessons.
Conservative MPP Jim Wilson, who is sponsoring the bill to end the DriveTest dispute, says the strike has lasted long enough.
"The government doesn't understand that you're being laid off, that people are being inconvenienced, that new Canadians are not able to get a licence, that new immigrants are not able to get a licence for jobs they were promised when they came to this country," said Wilson.
The employees of DriveTest Ontario rejected an offer from their employer, Serco, in early November.
"The main outstanding issues are supervisors, non-bargaining unit people doing our work, which results in layoffs in the wintertime, reduction of hours for all employees. Minimum number of hours working for part-time people is another strong outstanding issue," said Terry Peck a DriveTest examiner and member of the bargaining committee.
The examiners have been on strike since Aug. 21.
Seven of the province's 56 DriveTest Centres have reopened and are offering limited services.
The government says it won't step in and end the strike.
Labour Minister Peter Fonseca said Monday he understands the work stoppage has inconvenienced many, but insists the most productive solution is a negotiated settlement with the help of government mediators.
With files from The Canadian Press
