GO Transit workers reach tentative agreement with Metrolinx, ending 4-day strike

GO Transit workers have reached a tentative contract agreement with Metrolinx, ending the four-day strike that cancelled GO Bus services.

Metrolinx tells CityNews bus service is expected to resume on Saturday.

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

Contract negotiations were expected to resume Friday, but the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) accused the transit operator of delaying talks.

Talks then resumed on Thursday.

Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins said they were very pleased to have reached an agreement with the union. 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.”

On why bus service won’t resume on Friday, Aikins said, “We have to get our staff back in. We have to get the buses back in their usual location and make sure their service. There’s things that we have to do to ensure safety.”

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.

“I am proud of our GO Transit members. On the picket lines and rallies, I saw firsthand their strength, unity, and solidarity,” ATU International President John Costa said.

The deal will now be voted on by union members before it can be ratified. A previous deal reached between the union and Metrolinx was struck down by over 80 per cent of workers.

ATU President Rob Cormier said he is confident this deal will be passed.

“My message to my members is because of them, because of their ability to want to stand and fight for what was right, we got what we were looking for,” said Cormier.

“We want to thank the labor movement. They were integral in having our presence being even bigger out there, and it’s been a win for labour.”