Since the beginning of the year, Halifax Transit cancelled 75 bus trips due to staffing shortages and has experienced around 40 resignations with about 23 drivers retiring, according to a Halifax Transit bus operator who's been working for 23 years.

Shane O'Leary, president of Amalgamated Transit Union 508. Photo contributed.

Shane O'Leary, president of Amalgamated Transit Union 508, said the main reason behind the shortages is because of low wages and poor work conditions that are not improving.

"There's too much split work. There's too much travel to get back and forth to buses. There's too much forced overtime. There are not enough employees. I don't think Halifax Council knows in depth what is actually going on a transit."

O'Leary said wage conditions were last negotiated in 2016, and that the union has been without a contract for about a year.

"We have a contract that we will start negotiating in October and hopefully it'll be done this year."

O'Leary added that although Halifax is the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada, the municipality is far behind as neighbouring cities continue to receive higher wages.

"In Cape Breton Regional Municipality, the starting wage rates for bus drivers are higher there; St. John's Newfoundland is considerably higher than us; St. John's, New Brunswick, has higher [wages] than us. We have the biggest tax base and they can't afford to pay bus drivers a living wage to start."

In training, bus drivers make up to $21.45 an hour, and then it increases to just over $22, however that is a four-year wage step with a considerable amount of deductions.

O'Leary said that the situation is also similar with ferry workers, saying that ferries in BC get paid 30-50% more than Halifax.

As summer comes to an end, with students relying on new U-PASSES from universities, it will be difficult to accommodate their needs when they return for classes less than a month away for the fall. Photo by Sara Gouda.

As summer comes to an end, with students relying on new U-PASSES from universities, it will be difficult to accommodate their needs when many return for classes in Sept.

"I don't see it getting better before it gets worse."

O'Leary added that students resuming university courses in September will probably result in more forced work and labour, and that it will be difficult to make significant changes with less than a month away.

"Transit is not being managed properly. The city really needs to step up its game, there has to be comparable wages and benefits and there are not."

The full list of cancelled bus trips is available on the Halifax Transit website.

CKDU reached out to Halifax Transit and spokesperson Laura Wright said in a statement that Halifax Transit’s current staffing situation is fluid and is being monitored closely on a regular basis.

"Halifax Transit staffing fluctuates regularly based on multiple factors, including retirements, long-term illnesses, etc. Our current Bus Operator recruitment campaign aims to increase staffing resources and resume regular operations as soon as possible," said Wright.

Wright added that decisions related to service cancellations are made incrementally with the goal of minimizing impact on their customers.

Halifax Transit is actively recruiting and has a new class of operators in training at this time, she said.

"We are currently in active recruitment for our next two classes starting in August and October and there are active postings on our career site."

Listen to the full interview below: