GO bus strike looms

GO Transit riders are being told to prepare for a possible strike on Monday. Metrolinx issued an advisory as they continue contract negotiations with the Amalgamated Transit Union.

The ATU is the union that represents some 1,850 GO employees. This includes bus drivers, GO station attendants, and maintenance personnel.

In the event of a labour disruption, regular GO train service would continue, but there would be no GO bus service.

However, the ripple effect would be that GO train customers could be affected by increased demand on train services and parking facilities.

Some 250 000 people take GO service every day. Metrolinx says of that number, 53,000 are GO bus customers. As a result, a massive number of people could be impacted as the week begins.

Metrolinx has suggested people consider other travel options such as biking, carpooling, or working from home, if possible.

“I would not be able to find any other mode of transportation. Cab — that would be it. theres not a lot of people that do have other modes of transportaition. I could see it affecting a lot of people,” said one affected rider.

Another had similar thoughts. “There’s a lot of people that go back and forth for work and stuff like that. More problems for them. I think getting back and forth every day, appointments stuff like that.”

A GO bus driver told CHCH he hopes there isn’t a strike, and thinks it won’t come to that. but also said he has to stick with his union.

A Metrolinx spokesperson says she doesn’t anticipate a decision will come down tonight.