York Region transit strike drags on
CBC News
Posted: Nov 14, 2011 5:56 PM ET
Last Updated: Nov 14, 2011 7:38 PM ET
The strike began on Oct. 24. ((CBC))
The public transit strike in York Region is heading into its fourth week with no end in sight.
Since the strike began on Oct. 24, the unions and management companies involved have only met once.
Negotiators for ATU Local 113 - which represents about 220 drivers - and Veolia Transportation met last week but failed to make any progress.
ATU Local 1587 is also on strike. That union represents about 340 workers.
Ray Doyle of ATU Local 1587 says they haven't met with their employers since October.
"At the last discussion we had, the two parties were so far apart that negotiating a settlement in this is almost impossible," said Doyle.
Both unions have proposed binding arbitration but all three transit companies - Veolia, First Student and Miller Transit - have rejected that offer.
A spokesperson for Veolia, the company that operates VIVA buses, says the unions need to make the next move.
For commuters the strike is a challenge.
Kulsum Khalfan told CBC News the strike means an extra hour on her daily commute as she has to wait for one of the few buses still running in York Region.
"It's not an easy ride," said Khalfan. "It's usually packed and everyone is so frustrated."
"It's going to be one memorable winter if nothing happens quickly," she said.
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Toronto traffic with Joan Chang