Harris Decima poll on transit strike

A telephone poll of 816 residents was commissioned by the city and conducted by Harris Decima between Dec. 27 and 30. It is considered accurate within plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

When asked to describe where they stand on the issue, based on what they know about the strike and the bargaining position of the two sides:

  • 63 per cent of respondents strongly or moderately support the city.
  • 14 per cent strongly or moderately support the union.
  • 18 per cent are neutral.

When asked, "Overall, the offer the city has made contains a three-year pay increase of 7.25 per cent, eight uncertified sick days per year, a productivity bonus of $2,500, and the ability for senior drivers to choose preferred schedules, with overall control of scheduling in the hands of the city. Would you say this is a reasonable offer that the city is making?"

  • 89 per cent of respondents think the city's latest offer to the union is reasonable or fairly reasonable.
  • Seven per cent think the city's latest offer to the union is fairly or very unreasonable.
  • The rest had no opinion.

When asked, "How satisfied are you with the way the parties in these negotiations have handled the situation?"

  • 37 per cent were dissatisfied with how the city has dealt with it.
  • 36 per cent were satisfied with how the city has dealt with it.
  • 70 per cent were dissatisfied with how the union has dealt with it.
  • Eight per cent were satisfied with how the union has dealt with it.

When asked "How important do you feel it is that the City of Ottawa hold firm to its current bargaining position?"

  • 85 per cent of respondents thought it was moderately to extremely important.
  • 12 per cent though it was slightly or not important.

City staff have been asked to look into opening Ottawa's bus-only Transitway to cars and offering free taxi rides to the city's most vulnerable residents if striking transit workers vote against the city's latest offer.

City council held a special meeting Tuesday about the transit strike, which was in its 28th day.

About 2,300 transit drivers, dispatchers and maintenance workers represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279 were scheduled to vote on the city's offer Thursday.

Federal Labour Minister Rona Ambrose ordered the vote after a request from the city.

"We're cautiously optimistic that it will be a yes vote," Mayor Larry O'Brien said at a news conference following the council meeting.

"We've been taking all the steps in terms of minimizing the inconvenience to the citizens of Ottawa in the event that it is a negative vote."

The measures that staff are to look into and report back to the city about by next Wednesday include:

  • Opening the bus-only Transitway to regular vehicle traffic.
  • Boosting taxi service and paying for taxi service for the city's poorest residents.
  • Increasing funding to community centres that offer services to low-income people.
  • Offering more free parking for cars with many passengers.
  • Reviewing parking rates, both at meters and in parking lots.
  • Considering additional "no stopping" restrictions.
  • Increasing bike and pedestrian mobility.
  • Waiving residential street parking permit fees during the strike.
  • Encouraging staff at City Hall to bring passengers with them.

O'Brien reiterated that council believes the city's offer is fair and reasonable, and said council has unanimously reconfirmed its support for the position.

O'Brien also pointed to a poll of 816 residents conducted in late December that showed most support the city's position, think its offer is reasonable and believe the city should hold firm to its position.

"We are comfortable that the council is accurately reflecting the will of the citizens of Ottawa," he said.

However, he said he hopes the union "takes this opportunity to make this a very short strike."

When asked if the city would consider going back to the bargaining table if union members vote against the offer, O'Brien responded, "All doors would be open. We'll sit down and we'll see what happens after the vote on Thursday."