Negotiations between striking GO Transit workers, Metrolinx to resume Thursday

The union representing thousands of striking GO Transit workers says negotiations with their employer will resume on Thursday.

The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) says Metrolinx first reached out with an offer for the two sides to meet on Friday to negotiate a contract for the 2,200 striking workers, including bus drivers, station attendants and fare inspectors.

“During the negotiations on Sunday, ATU leadership brought forward a number of new proposals that had not been tabled in the past,” a Metrolinx spokesperson said.

“Since that time, we have been working on a revised proposal to present when negotiations resume tomorrow afternoon. We are actively engaged at the bargaining table, and we will continue to work with our ATU colleagues to reach a deal.”

But ATU Local 1587 president Rob Cormier says after the union pushed for an earlier date, Metrolinx agreed to meet Thursday.

GO Transit buses will remain parked until at least the end of the week.

ATU President John Di Nino accused Metrolinx of tactically pushing back the talks.

“We can’t understand why they are delaying the return to the table,” he said. “We are prepared to return to the table at a moment’s notice.”

GO Transit bus service was suspended for a third straight day on Wednesday as striking drivers returned to the picket lines. The ATU said strikes would continue until the contract is resolved.

Metrolinx and the union failed to agree to a new deal over the weekend.

“Metrolinx continues to bargain in good faith and is pleased the ATU leadership will be returning to the negotiating table on Friday for the 21st bargaining session since April 2022,” Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins told CityNews on Tuesday.

“(We) remain hopeful an agreement can be reached to welcome back our ATU colleagues and get our GO buses back on the road for our customers.”

The union says Metrolinx did not put forward a proposal Sunday that addressed key bargaining concerns, including a commitment to hiring more full-time workers and protections against contracting work to outside companies.

ATU International Vice President Manny Sforza had called a last-minute proposal of consultation from Metrolinx “outrageous.”

“We came back with our work done,” says Sforza. “Metrolinx sat at the table 13 hours before a deadline and proposed four more weeks of consultation with our members.”

Metrolinx says the union tabled new issues in weekend negotiations that couldn’t be addressed before Monday’s strike deadline.

The workers had originally planned to strike on Oct. 31 but pushed back the date in order to vote on the most recent offer.

The workers rejected the offer, with 81 per cent voting against it and in favour of strike action. Employees have been without a contract since April and say their main sticking points have been safety and job security.

GO train service, and the UP Express continue to operate normally as the bus drivers and station attendants strike.

With files from The Canadian Press and Michelle Mackey