Tentative deal reached to avoid Grand River Transit bus strike

A Grand River Transit bus is seen along King Street in Waterloo on Oct. 15, 2024. (Jeff Pickel/CTV News)

A tentative agreement has been reached between the Region of Waterloo and a union representing hundreds of Grand River Transit (GRT) workers.

Unifor Local 4304 includes 850 people who work as operators, maintenance technicians, service attendants and reservationists for the transit organization’s bus system and MobilityPLUS network. They have been in talks with the region to try to hammer out a new collective agreement that addresses concerns with wages, benefits and scheduling before their current contract expires on May 1.

If a deal wasn’t reached, union members would have been in a legal strike position as of Friday.

On Thursday night, the region issued a news release stating a tentative agreement had been reached and Grand River Transit bus service would continue uninterrupted.

Union members will vote on the agreement on May 3.