New transit strike deadline set in York Region

Transit users in York Region breathed a sigh of relief when a tentative deal temporarily averted a transit strike earlier this week, but workers rejected the proposal and a new deadline for job action has been set.

If another deal isn’t reached by 11:59pm Sunday, a strike will begin Monday morning.

“We hope that does not happen but it takes two to reach an agreement,” Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 president Bob Kinnear said in a statement Wednesday evening.

A potential strike wouldn’t affect Viva services.

Veolia Transportation, which operates 28 bus routes in southwest York Region that are used by approximately 28,000 people every day, put a deal on the table late Sunday night, which was accepted by the ATU Local 113 — the same local that represents the TTC.

Veolia is one of four private contractors that provide transit in York Region.

The union warned it would have a hard time selling the proposal to its members. When the deal went to the 214 bus drivers and mechanics for approval Wednesday night they shot it down. Health benefits and sick days were main sticking points.

Kinnear said he’s eager to get back to the bargaining table for “around the clock” negotiations to stave off a strike. Veolia has said it will provide more details once it speaks with union leaders.

“Veolia is now reaping the consequences of their poor treatment of their employees,” the union leader said in a statement. “To get a settlement they must not only improve their offer but demonstrate a sincere willingness to finally show respect for the people who provide a valuable service to York Region.”

Here’s a list of the routes that would be affected by the possible strike:

3 / 3B – Thornhill-York
4 / 4A – Major Mackenzie
5 – Clark
7 – Martin Grove
10 – York U.
11 – Woodbridge
12 – Pine Valley
13 – Islington
20 – Jane-Concord
23 – Thornhill Woods
27 – Highway 27
28 – Zenway-Highway 7
77 – Highway 7
88 / 88E – Bathurst
91 / A / B / E – Bayview
98E – Yonge
99 – Yonge
98 / 99 – Yonge (Late Night)
360 – Maple Express
460 – Holy Cross
461 – Emily Carr
462 – Maple High School
463 – Vellore School
464 – St. Joan of Arc
465 – St. Joan of Arc

Routes that WOULD NOT be affected by a potential strike:

-All five Viva Rapid Transit service routes operated by York BRT Services Inc
-All 28 YRT transit routes in Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville and 21 transit routes in Richmond Hill operated by Miller Transit
-All 29 YRT routes in Newmarket, Aurora, King Township, East Gwillimbury and Georgina operated by First Group
-All 11 TTC routes operating in York Region
-All YRT Mobility Plus transit service
-The four community bus routes in Richmond Hill, Markham and Newmarket operated by Tokmakjian under a separate contract
-GO Route 69 – Sutton