GO Riders May Escape Crippling Strike Despite Walkout
Posted February 1, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
If CN workers walk, will GO go with it?
There’s a possibility that even if a strike idles Canadian National on February 9th, your daily commute will continue unaffected.
Engineers upset with their treatment at the hands of management are threatening to walk out en masse in two weeks, leaving the tracks they work on empty. GO Transit uses those routes and would be forced to halt its service on everything but the CP-owned Milton line.
But the government is watching the situation closely and hints it may get involved in a limited way if a strike takes place.
“We’re prepared to if they need a facilitator or whatever,” promises Premier Dalton McGuinty. “Should worse come to worse and the talks fail then, you know, we’ll be looking to see if there can be some kind of exclusion or exemption for those people who are working with GO Transit.”
But it may not come to that. A published report now suggests an agreement may be in the works to maintain the service even if CN workers walk off the job. The union and management still have to work out final details to make that happen.
If that doesn’t, peeved riders – who have already experienced weeks of delays – will go from simmering anger to full boil.
“For me, it would be the worst thing that could happen,” worries Ron Zaccolo. “Because going downtown, I’m not crazy for it. The way home is just horrific.”
“I’d have to ride on the T.T.C., which could probably extend my commute by about half an hour,” relates Peter Sitko.
There is some small compensation for commuters. GO will refund all pass holders for the number of days they lose during any job action. But a lot of that money may be going to more expensive alternate transportation.
The results of the strike vote will be released Friday.
GO has an email alert service to update passengers instantly about any changes or problems. To sign up, click here.
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