`There's a lot of anxiety'
OC Transpo union calling for prompt vaccination of its `frontline workers'
Ottawa public transit workers need a shot in the arm — of the vaccine variety — right now, says the president of the city's largest transit union.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279 organized a protest outside the OC Transpo complex at 1500 St. Laurent Blvd. on Friday to call for vaccines for transit employees at OC Transpo, ParaTranspo and Alstom, which does cleaning and maintenance on the Confederation Line.
“These are frontline workers, and these are people that are dealing with the most vulnerable people of the city, and they still have not got a firm date on when they're going to receive a vaccination,” said local president Clint Crabtree.
The issue isn't with the employer, Crabtree said. He said he and Transpo boss John Manconi share the same desire to see transit employees vaccinated right away.
In a statement, Manconi said OC Transpo and the city would continue to follow Ottawa Public Health guidance for local vaccine sequencing as well as the province's vaccination plan, which has transit employees as part of Phase 2.
“And we hope that happens very soon,” Manconi said.
“It is more of a provincial issue,” Crabtree said. “And I think the province should have put transit employees at the front of the line.”
The province recently moved into Phase 2 of its vaccine rollout plan, with essential frontline workers who can't work from home among the groups that will become eligible for a shot in this phase.
That group of workers has been split into two, with public transit workers in the latter group behind school and childcare workers, first responders, bylaw enforcement, building inspectors, farm workers and others.
“We need this vaccine immediately. And I know everybody wants it immediately. And I feel for the grocery workers and everybody else out there that is a frontline worker, but I'm pushing for our members to get it right away,” Crabtree said.
He said more than 50 members have tested positive for COVID -19 since the pandemic hit Ottawa, a number that continues to grow.
According to the city, a total of 88 confirmed cases have been identified among Transpo employees, who number nearly 3,000 (not all had contact with the public).
“There's a lot of anxiety from the members, just out there every day. They've been out there since Day 1 dealing with everything that's going on,” Crabtree said.
“And I understand, yes, we're in a pandemic, but they want to know what's going on as far as they're concerned in receiving this vaccination.”
When it comes to bus and train operators, at least, the union's call for prompt vaccination has some support from the mayor.
“Given their close and regular contact with members of the public, Mayor Watson would like to see transit operators be given a higher level of vaccine priority by the province,” said spokesperson Patrick Champagne.
At minimum, Crabtree said getting a date for vaccination would be a step forward for transit employees.
“At least they'd see a light at the end of the tunnel. Not knowing is the worst thing,” he said.