Barrie Transit drivers ready to walk off the job if deal isn’t reached

Members of the union that represents Barrie Transit workers voted 96 per cent in favour of striking against MVT, the American contractor in charge of transit.

Barrie Transit driver Paul Dixon is one of more than 220 drivers ready to walk off the job on Monday. The union recently voted 96.5 per cent of strike action if a new deal isn’t reached.

“Well I definitely don’t want to go on strike but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” said Dixon. “I’m praying, you can always pray, otherwise we will be out.”

The union representing the transit riders says it has given strike notice after failing to reach a new agreement with MVT Canadian Bus Inc., a Texas-based company holding a 20-year contract to operate Barrie Transit. The union says the main issue isn’t pay but what it calls respect and benefits.

“We’re trying for better benefits to cover a growing assault rate that everyone wants to sweep under the rug,” says Local 1775 President and Business Agent Cory Trew. “There is no good faith bargaining going on at the table whatsoever. They are trying to enforce American labour law up here which doesn’t work.”

In a statement to CTV News, MVT provided the following:

“Since June 2025, MVT has presented several comprehensive proposals to the union in the course of collective bargaining, consistent with its obligation to bargain in good faith. We acknowledge, but disagree with, the union’s decision to authorize a potential strike, which will potentially affect transit services for Barrie’s citizens. We look forward to the union’s next proposal on March 20 and remain hopeful the day ends in an agreement.”

Roughly 10,000 people use Barrie Transit every day. Many say they are aware of the pending strike.

“It will affect a lot of people in Barrie but they have to do what they have to do right,” said Barrie resident Rick Graham.

If the strike goes ahead, the City says it has some contingency plans in place.

“For conventional and transit on demand, the only route that will be operating is route 8 and it will be operating from Monday to Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at about 70-minute intervals,” said Evan Chen, manager of Transit Fleet with the City of Barrie.

Management staff will be operating the buses if the strike goes forward. There will be no cost to riders during the potential strike. Special services will also be offered only for those needing to get to essential medical appointments.

The Barrie Allandale transit terminal will remain open. Other travel providers like GO and Ontario Northland could be disrupted and pick-up and drop-off locations may change.

The union says it has one more round of talks scheduled with the company on Friday. If that fails, come Monday, it says it’s walking out at 12:01 a.m. and it will stop and slow down any buses that may be running.