Deal to end strike at Ont. driving centres
Last Updated: Saturday, December 19, 2009 | 7:52 PM ET
The Canadian Press
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Ontario's driving examiners could be back on the job in early January after apparently reaching an agreement with their employer on the weekend.
The two sides negotiated an end to the four-month work stoppage, though details of the yet-to-be-ratified deal were still confidential, according to CTV.
About 590 DriveTest employees walked off the job Aug. 21 after talks broke off with their employer, Serco DES Inc.
The strike has prevented many Ontarians from getting new driver's licences or renewals since August. The main sticking points between the two sides included wages, benefits and a proposal to increase the number of part-time employees at the expense of full-time jobs.
The strike affected 93 full-time and part-time DriveTest sites, which grant or renew licences to novice drivers and those over 80. The strike has left about 400,000 road tests on the backburner across Ontario.
In November and December, non-striking managers opened 12 centres so that commercial drivers could get their licences for work purposes.
The province contracted out driver testing in 2003 to Serco DES in a 10-year deal. If the contract agreement is ratified, full service at the centres would likely resume Jan. 5. The union had previously rejected an offer in November.
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