The City of Ottawa is looking to audit OC Transpo's scheduling practices, continuing a contentious issue that gripped the city in a two-month strike between 2008 and 2009.
Following the strike, which was resolved in binding arbitration, OC Transpo managers were given the power to implement a new scheduling system that gave priority to drivers with seniority. Previously, drivers were allowed to set up runs themselves.
The system has been in place for just under a year, and city auditor-general Alain Lalonde -- through the federal contract system Merx -- is now seeking a private contractor to review how effective it has been so far.
At the time of the strike, OC Transpo management claimed the new system would save $4 million a year since, they said, some drivers were deliberately scheduling their shifts to pull overtime. The audit will in part examine if the new schedule does indeed save money.
Drivers have complained the new system is not as flexible and forces a lot of missed runs.
Proposals are open until Aug. 30 and the audit is scheduled to finish Jan. 28, 2011.
