Barrie Transit to potentially go on strike next week

A city bus leaves the Transit Hub in Barrie, Ont.

If you rely on Barrie Transit to get around, you may want to keep an eye out for possible service disruptions, as a strike could potentially be on the horizon.

The City of Barrie says Barrie Transit workers could be in a strike position as of Mon., March 23.

Though the City is not an employer, officials say they are monitoring the situation and working closely with MVT Canadian Bus Inc., the Dallas, Texas-based contractor that delivers Barrie Transit.

Members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Canada Local 1775, the union that represents Barrie Transit workers, voted 96 per cent in favour of striking against MVT, according to a release from ATU.

Why there could be a strike

According to the union, the dispute surrounds chronic scheduling failures, a lack of respect from management and unfair labour practice allegations. It also cites MVT’s decision to send an American union-busting firm or firm that prevents employees from forming a union, that doesn’t have knowledge in Canadian labour law to conduct negotiations.

“ATU Canada and ATU International are calling on MVT Canadian Bus Inc. to return to the table immediately with a qualified Canadian labour relations representative and negotiate a contract that reflects the value Barrie’s transit workers deliver every day,” says ATU Canada.

The contractor has a 20-year agreement to run Barrie Transit and Local 1775 President and Business Agent Cory Trew says this is the first time in his 15 years with the union that workers have moved towards a strike.

“A 96.5 per cent strike mandate is not a negotiating tactic; it is a verdict. That is fifteen years of workers who have never once asked for a fight, telling this company that enough is enough. MVT sent a firm that does not know Canadian labour law and does not care to learn it,” says Trew. “They came to Barrie to break us, not to bargain with us. They miscalculated.”

How a strike could affect the public

The City of Barrie is reassuring the public that there are plans in place to prioritize some of the essential transit services during the potential strike, however, it does advise people to plan and make alternative transit arrangements.

“The City remains hopeful that the Union (Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1775) and MVT will reach a negotiated settlement,” the City states in a release.

If a strike does happen, the City says the only route that will run is a modified Route 8 Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. running roughly every 75 minutes.

Specialized transit will still run for essential medical appointments from Monday to Saturday 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Riders will be able to take the bus for free if a strike goes through as no fares will be collected.

The Barrie Allandale transit terminal will stay open but other transit operators could be affected like the GO Train and Ontario Northland, with potential disruption to pick-up and drop-off locations.

A strike would also affect snow clearing services and garbage and recycling collection at the bus stops and shelters.