Burton steps down as labour council chief

Peterborough Transit driver Tyler Burns elected new president, effective Jan. 1

The Peterborough and District Labour Council will have a new president on Jan. 1.

Tyler Burns, a city bus driver and president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1320, was elected on Tuesday evening as incoming president of the Labour Council.

Marion Burton, who has been president for 12 years, didn’t seek re-election on Tuesday; she said in a phone interview immediately after the election that

Burns will take over the role.

Burns is currently a memberat-large of the labour council. He couldn’t be reached for comment, on Tuesday; Burton said he was out of the city.

Here’s the rest of the elected leadership positions:

• Vice-president: Marcus Harvey, executive director of the Trent University Faculty Association (TUFA) retains this position.

• Secretary: Dave Warda, president of Ontario Secondary

School Teachers Federation (OSSTF) District 14, retains this role.

• Treasurer: Wendy Goodes, member of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and retired classroom teacher, takes over this role from Doug McDonald.

Burton, 62, says she will remain executive-at-large. She’s been involved in the labour movement since the 1980s, she stated in a release.

“I need to step away,” she said over the phone Tuesday evening. “I’ve been in leadership for 12 years.”

Burton works as a steward with Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 345 at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

She was the head of the union, but has been slowly stepping back as she approaches retirement in 2019.

CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT/EXAMINER FILE PHOTO Marion Burton (left), president of the Peterborough and District Labour Council, takes part in an Injured Workers' Day event outsidethe General Electric plant on May 31. Burton announced Tuesday that she won’t run for re-election as council president.