Striking York Region Transit workers marched up Yonge Street in Newmarket on Thursday morning in an effort to raise awareness about a labour dispute now going into its eighth week.

Shortly after 8 a.m., hundreds of workers began a march toward York Region headquarters that forced police to close Yonge between Mulock Drive and David Drive.

Nearly 600 YRT drivers and maintenance staff have been off the job since Oct. 24, affecting 50,000 commuters on more than 80 routes in Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill and northern York Region. The employees are from three contracted companies: First Student Canada, Miller Transit and Veolia Transportation, which runs York Region's Viva bus rapid transit service.

Employees have demanded York Region bring in an arbitrator to end the dispute. But YRT chair Bill Fisch has said it’s up to the union and their employer to resolve.

On Thursday afternoon the council announced that commuters in York Region will get a free month on the buses once the current transit strike ends.

The regional council says it has accumulated more than $5 million from not paying contractors during the strike.

“They say they’re just looking to be heard,” Butler reported. “They say their employers won’t negotiate and York Region councillors won’t intervene.”

Issues in the dispute are wages, pension and benefits.