December 12, 2023
The City of Edmonton and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU DATS) have agreed to the terms of a new collective agreement. Today, Edmonton City Council voted to ratify the terms of the proposed agreement, which was the final step of the bargaining process. On December 5, 2023, ATU DATS members voted to accept the terms for a successor collective agreement.
“DATS plays an important role in ensuring accessible travel for many in our community. We are very pleased to have worked collaboratively with ATU DATS to reach this agreement. Together we have finalized terms that both balance the needs of our union employees and support our commitment to Edmontonians to be fiscally responsible,” said Michelle Plouffe, Chief People Officer, City of Edmonton. “The DATS workers included in this agreement provide excellent service to riders and this agreement enables their good work to continue.”
“I want to thank the DATS staff as well as our riders for their patience as we worked through these negotiations,” said Carrie Hotton-MacDonald, Branch Manager, Edmonton Transit Service. “This is a really great outcome and provides us with more flexibility as DATS Operators join the ATU main collective agreement alongside their conventional transit counterparts."
“It’s the beginning of a new era of recognition of the value of workers who serve the disabled population,” said Steve Bradshaw, President, Amalgamated Transit Union. “I am pleased that we were able to achieve this long-needed agreement for our DATS members. Through this agreement, workers will now have a pathway to the same wages and working conditions as conventional transit operators.”
The terms of the two-year agreement include a one per cent increase for 2022 and a two per cent increase in 2023. As part of this agreement, both parties have agreed to merge the DATS unit into the ATU Main agreement effective January 1, 2024. This will provide a pathway for DATS Operators to become trained and certified to operate conventional vehicles, and increased flexibility for Edmonton Transit Service, which benefits the City’s riders.
ATU DATS is comprised of approximately 150 members who improve accessibility in the City by providing door-to-door public transportation service.
The process of implementing the agreement will begin effective immediately.
