Possible STO strike has Gatineau officials warning bus riders to make other plans

The STO is telling Gatineau bus riders to find temporary transportation alternatives amid looming strikes. CTV’s Kimberley Johnson reports.

The Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) is warning bus riders that their commute could be affected next week, as a looming strike could cause buses to be pulled from the roads.

In a statement on their website, STO says it will continue to work throughout the weekend to reach a deal with the union representing some STO workers but recommends commuters “make alternative transportation arrangements for Monday.”

Olivier Lachance, the president of Local 1557 ATU, says his members have been working without a contract for three years.

“There’s a lot of frustration and disappointment from our members,” he explains.

“They feel that they don’t have the recognition they deserve. They’ve been going to COVID-19. We have not had enough drivers for years and we’ve been working hard to get the service out.”

The union represents more than 50 members including supervisors and trainers with the STO. Lachance says wages and job security are the main negotiation barriers, with supervisors at STO making 20 per cent less than those in the same role at OC Transpo.

University of Ottawa student Catherine Gabriel who commutes to campus from Gatineau worries she won’t be taking her bus starting next week.

“It would be like an hour walk –– I’ve done it before. It’s not very fun,” she said.

“It’s really my main source of transportation at the moment. So, this would be affecting me.”

For those planning to use a car, the fight for parking spaces could be a challenge.

Katherine Bellfoy with the Gatineau-based real-estate developer Marc Dube Group, says the 2000 spaces they own in 15 Hull lots, could fill up by 8:30 a.m.

“We will have extra staff on site, we will do valet parking in some of the lots to be able to serve more people,” Bellfoy said. “But there is still a capacity and it’s going to be full pretty early.”

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