News

Grand River Transit, union reach a tentative deal

Negotiators stayed at the table even after the midnight deadline came and went

CBC News
March 20, 2017

Grand River Transit and the union representing its 644 drivers, dispatchers, fleet mechanics and service attendants reached a tentative deal early Monday, averting a possible transit strike.

The workers, who are represented by Unifor Local 4304, have been without a contract since December 2016 and had voted 98 per cent in favour of a strike if a deal could not be reached at 12:01 a.m. on Monday March 20.

Negotiators stayed at the table Monday, even after the deadline came and went, reaching a tentative agreement at 2:33 a.m. Monday morning.

It means there will be no service disruptions for the transit agency’s 66,000 daily riders as a result of a strike or lockout and all Grand Rivers Transit buses and Mobility PLUS vehicles will be running according to their regular schedules.

The tenative deal must still be ratified by the union, but there is no indication when the vote will take place. The region also needs to ratify the deal.

Details of the tentative deal were not available.

Source: Grand River Transit, union reach a tentative deal