GO bus service resumes after workers reach tentative deal with Metrolinx

GO Transit bus service is set to resume Saturday after the union representing striking staff reached a deal with Metrolinx.

More than 2,200 workers walked off the job on Monday, prompting the cancellation of bus service across the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1587, which represents the GO bus operators, station attendants, maintenance workers and other staff, announced late Thursday that it had reached a tentative deal with the transit operator.

The ATU said the three-year agreement “addresses the Union’s safety concerns by ensuring that experienced and highly trained workers remain on the job and critical language that would protect GO Transit jobs from being contracted out.”

The deal capped wage increases still at one per cent due to Bill 124, but they agreed to a wage reopener if Bill 124 was ever reversed. The legislation caps wage increases for nurses at one per cent annually.

Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins said the agency was pleased the two sides had reached the tentative three-year deal.

“While there was always a sense of urgency, there was some significant improvements that were made to the deal and it took time for us to work through them and make sure that we correctly articulated them and reflected what their our employees really wanted,” says Aikins.

GO bus workers, including drivers and station attendants, have been on strike since Monday, suspending bus service for the duration of the work week and stranding thousands of commuters.

With files from The Canadian Press