Weekend walkout over, Toronto transit returns to normal
The strike that shut down most public transit in Canada's biggest city for just over 36 hours has been brought to an end by the Ontario legislature. A Spadina streetcar moves through Chinatown shortly after the strike ended late Sunday afternoon. (Carolyn Ryan/CBC News)
An emergency session of the legislature Sunday afternoon resulted in quick passing of back-to-work legislation, ending the strike that made getting around Toronto a headache for most of the weekend.
Nearly 9,000 bus, subway and streetcar drivers, maintenance workers and other staff are expected back on the job by Sunday evening.
"It goes without saying that Toronto, our capital city, plays an important role for all Ontarians," said Premier Dalton McGuinty in the legislature. "By acting on behalf of Toronto workers, and families and businesses, we are acting in the best interests of all Ontarians."
On Sunday morning, buses, streetcars and subways were already being readied to return to the roads and the rails in anticipation of the legislation.
Gary Webster, general manager of the Toronto Transit Commission, told CBC News, "We're very hopeful two or three hours after the legislation is passed that we'll have some service out on the street. It will not be as much service as we would normally operate on a Sunday ... I think it's important that we send the message to the public, very clearly, that we're anxious to get back to work."
Resumption of subway service will be gradual, but it is expected to be back to normal in time for Monday morning's rush hour.
On a typical weekday, about 1.5 million riders use the TTC, making it the biggest public transportation system in the country.
GM expects no problems
Webster said he doesn't think there will be any difficulties and that the workers will be back at their jobs without any problem.
"I don't believe that's the union's intention ... I think the union will honour what happens this afternoon and they'll probably get some information out to their members to make sure their members are aware of their responsibility to return to work." Police officers gather outside St. George Station at around 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, after the station reopened to TTC users. (Carolyn Ryan/CBC News)
McGuinty called the rare Sunday session after Toronto Mayor David Miller requested back-to-work legislation to end the walkout.
The bill imposes mediation and then arbitration on any issues that are still outstanding between the TTC and its union — and if the two sides cannot agree on a mediator-abitrator within five days, the government will appoint one.
The legislation says the mediator-arbitrator has to take into account some factors external to the bargaining table, such as the city's and the province's ability to pay.
The bill was given royal assent by Lt.-Gov. David Onley.
If the union, or any of its members, defy the legislation, they could face fines of $25,000 per day for the union and $2,000 per day for individuals.
Toronto subway train at St Andrew station
Canada's largest public transit system is expected to resume service Sunday evening after the Ontario provincial government ordered striking Toronto transit workers back to work today. Service was shut down when transit workers suddenly walked off the job on Friday, having just voted to reject a labour contract deal made the previous weekend.

The provincial legislature met in an extraordinary Sunday afternoon session to pass Bill 66, the ''Toronto Public Transit Service Resumption Act, 2008'' which not only orders the transit work to resume, but includes follow-up arbitration to resolve outstanding disagreements between transit management and its unions. The largest union affected is Local 113 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, but the legislation also affects workers unionised under International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge 235, and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2.

Union members who defy this law could be fined C$2000 per day, while the union itself would risk a daily fine of C$25,000. However, ATU Local 113 president Bob Kinnear indicated that his union would respect the law and return to work while supporting the choice of Kevin Burkett as arbitrator. Wages were not an issue for union members, who voted against the earlier draft contract out of fears regarding compensation for on-the-job injuries, and for maintenance workers' job security.

Toronto's subways, streetcars and buses will operate on a limited service for Sunday evening, with full service expected as the work week begins Monday morning.