Strike information
Tuesday, January 31
YRT/Viva back in service February 4
Click here for free transit and service resumption details.
Saturday, January 28
Free YRT/Viva service on the way for riders; details to be announced next week
Miller Transit employees vote to accept offer and return to work with transit service phased in across York Region beginning Saturday, February 4
The Regional Municipality of York is pleased to advise residents details regarding free YRT/Viva service on all routes will be announced next week.
Operators and mechanics employed by Miller Transit, operator of 51 transit routes in York Region's Southeast Division, voted today to accept a new five-year collective agreement with their employer.
Reintroduction of YRT/Viva routes affected by the labour disruption will begin Saturday, February 4.
"Today's ratification brings an end to a prolonged strike that has affected our commuters and residents, but we are now moving forward to restore transit service throughout York Region," said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. "York Regional Council has already committed to provide a minimum one month of free service across our transit system, and details now being finalized and will be available next week."
Today's vote, accepted by 80 per cent of Miller Transit employees, represents the final contract required to restore full transit service. On Thursday, employees of York BRT Services ratified their agreement with Veolia Transportation while York Regional Council awarded a new operations and maintenance contract to TOK Transit Limited for the operation of YRT/Viva's North Division.
Vehicle maintenance has commenced and a driver re-training program will begin immediately. The re-training program is a contractual obligation within YRT/Viva, ensuring good safety and customer service practices remain consistent with other transit organizations in the GTA.
Routes affected by the transit strike will be phased in, beginning Saturday, February 4 and contractors will work toward resumption of the majority of service over the coming weeks.
Details of service resumption plans will also be released next week.
YRT/Viva continues to assist transit riders with travel options through the Customer Service Centre at 1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978). Ongoing updates are available on www.yrt.ca/ and www.york.ca/
Residents can also follow York Region on Twitter @YorkRegionGovt and Facebook www.facebook.com/YorkRegion
Thursday, January 26
ATU Local 1587, Miller Transit reach tentative agreement
Union will recommend offer and put before membership for a vote Saturday
The Regional Municipality of York has been notified that a tentative agreement has been reached today between Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1587 and YRT/Viva contracted operator Miller Transit. The union will recommend the offer and bring it before their membership for a vote Saturday, January 28.
"This tentative agreement in addition to the York BRT Services ratification vote today demonstrates how meaningful negotiations deliver results," said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. "This is another step in the right direction toward restoring full service for riders and an opportunity for drivers to vote to return to work immediately."
Southeast Division routes operated by Miller Transit remain unavailable at this time.
Operators and mechanics employed by York BRT Services, operator of five Viva routes in York Region, voted today to accept a new four-year collective agreement with their employer. Reintroduction of Viva routes is expected to begin Saturday, February 4.
Additionally, York Regional Council today awarded a new operations and maintenance contract to TOK Transit Limited for the operation of YRT/Viva's North Division starting February 4 with a complete phased-in return of service over the coming weeks.
The Region will provide additional service resumption details as they become available, including the start date of the minimum one month free service period.
The YRT/Viva strike began October 24, 2011 between ATU Local 1587, ATU Local 113 and YRT/Viva contracted operators Miller Transit, First Canada and York BRT Services. York Region does not have the contractual right to order the parties to arbitration in this dispute, and Regional Council has been clear in its position not to request back-to-work legislation from the Provincial Government or support binding arbitration as a means to end the YRT/Viva strike.
YRT/Viva continues to assist transit riders with travel options through the Customer Service Centre at 1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978). Ongoing updates are available on www.yrt.ca/ and www.york.ca/
Residents can also follow York Region on Twitter @YorkRegionGovt and Facebook www.facebook.com/YorkRegion
Thursday, January 26
YRT/Viva continues to assist transit riders with travel options through the Customer Service Centre at 1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978). Ongoing updates are available on www.yrt.ca/ and www.york.ca/
Residents can also follow York Region on Twitter @YorkRegionGovt and Facebook www.facebook.com/YorkRegion
Thursday, January 26
Phased-in return of service will begin next week with Route 98 and Route 55
York Regional Council today awarded a new operations and maintenance contract to TOK Transit Limited for the operation of YRT/Viva's North Division starting February 4 with a complete phased-in return of service over the coming weeks.
Starting Saturday, February 4, Route 98 on Yonge Street between the Towns of Newmarket and Richmond Hill and Route 55 on Davis Drive in the Town of Newmarket will begin operating. Additional routes will be phased-in over the following weeks.
"York Region has approved a new contract with an experienced transit contractor to begin restoring North Division service," said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. "We are pleased to be moving forward in partnership with TOK Transit Limited to get our buses in northern York Region back on the road and serving the riders who need them."
The four-year contract was awarded to TOK Transit Limited based on experience, cost competitiveness and ability to begin immediate reintroduction of North Division service. York Region will lease its transit facility at 18106 Yonge Street in the Town of Newmarket to TOK Transit Limited for the duration of their contract and invest up to $750,000 on facility improvements. Total estimated contract costs are $46,055,925, excluding fuel and taxes, with up to an additional $1 million contributed by the Region over the life of the contract for vehicle maintenance.
TOK Transit Limited is a subsidiary of Tokmakjian Inc., service provider for YRT/Viva's Southwest Division between 2003 and 2010, and operator for Vaughan Transit prior to YRT amalgamation in 2001.
To begin restoring service options to riders during the ongoing dispute, York Region terminated its contract on January 16 with First Canada, operator of 29 YRT/Viva routes in northern York Region. First Canada was awarded the North Division contract in June 2003 with its current contract set to expire June 27, 2012.
Operators represented by ATU Local 113 vote today on a tentative agreement reached Tuesday, January 24 with York BRT Services. Miller Transit and ATU Local 1587 resumed talks today following ongoing negotiations this week. The YRT/Viva strike began October 24, 2011 between ATU Local 1587, ATU Local 113 and YRT/Viva contracted operators Miller Transit, First Canada and York BRT Services.
York Region does not have the contractual right to order the parties to arbitration in this dispute, and Regional Council has been clear in its position not to request back-to-work legislation from the Provincial Government or support binding arbitration as a means to end the YRT/Viva strike.
YRT/Viva continues to assist transit riders with travel options through the Customer Service Centre at 1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978). Ongoing updates are available on www.yrt.ca/ and www.york.ca/
Residents can also follow York Region on Twitter @YorkRegionGovt and Facebook www.facebook.com/YorkRegion
Tuesday, January 24
ATU Local 113 and York BRT reach tentative agreement
Union states they will recommend offer to membership and arrange vote for Thursday
The Regional Municipality of York has been notified that a tentative agreement has been reached tonight between Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 and YRT/Viva contracted operator York BRT Services. According to the ATU, the union will recommend the offer to their membership and arrange a formal vote for Thursday, January 26.
"This tentative agreement demonstrates how meaningful negotiations between both parties can result in successful resolution," said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. "Progress is best made at the bargaining table and I thank the provincial mediator for assisting both the union and contractor. This tentative agreement should mark the beginning of the end of this prolonged dispute."
Viva routes operated by York BRT Services remain unavailable at this time. Should an offer be ratified, York Region will provide further details on a phased-in return of service.
Operators represented by ATU Local 113 rejected York BRT Services last offer by 75 per cent at a Ministry of Labour supervised vote January 17. Similarly, operators represented by ATU Local 1587 rejected Miller Transit's last offer by 83 per cent during a Ministry of Labour supervised vote January 6. Earlier tonight, Miller Transit completed the third day of negotiations with ATU Local 1587 and will resume talks tomorrow.
To begin restoring service options to riders during the ongoing dispute, York Region terminated its contract on January 16 with First Canada, operator of 29 YRT/Viva routes in northern York Region, and is working to complete a new contract with a different contractor to operate these routes.
Route 98 on Yonge Street will begin service February 5 between the Towns of Newmarket and Richmond Hill with additional North Division routes to follow. Additionally, York Region has introduced 60-foot articulated Viva buses to YRT Route 99 to increase capacity for riders.
Miller Transit and York BRT Services were also tasked with providing detailed service recovery plans outlining potential measures to begin restoring additional services in the event of an ongoing strike. In the event of an ongoing strike, the Region will evaluate these proposals and determine appropriate next steps.
York Region does not have the contractual right to order the parties to arbitration, and Regional Council has been clear in its position not to request back-to-work legislation from the Provincial Government or support arbitration as a means to end the YRT/Viva strike.
YRT/Viva continues to assist transit riders with travel options through the Customer Service Centre at 1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978). Ongoing updates are available on www.yrt.ca/ and www.york.ca/
Residents can also follow York Region on Twitter @YorkRegionGovt and Facebook www.facebook.com/YorkRegion
Tuesday, January 24
uesday, January 17
York BRT and Miller Transit bus operators have rejected offers from their employers to restore service and return to work. In addition to the termination of the First Canada Contract yesterday, the Region will await strike service recovery proposals from both remaining contractors due this Friday. York Region will continue to explore all means possible to restore additional service for riders in the absence of negotiations between the contractors and unions.
Monday, January 16
York Region terminates First Canada contract; plans to restore North Division service for riders
Region working to hire new transit contractor to begin YRT service February 5
The Regional Municipality of York has terminated its contract with First Canada, operator of 29 YRT/Viva routes in northern York Region, effective immediately.
York Region is working to complete a new contract with a different contractor to operate these routes. Route 98 on Yonge Street will begin service February 5 between the Towns of Newmarket and Richmond Hill with additional North Division routes to follow.
"It is outrageous that nearly a month has passed since First Canada and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587 last met to negotiate their agreement," said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. "This strike continues in the midst of winter at the expense of riders. With neither side showing any regard or urgency, and no resolution in sight, we are doing everything we can to help restore transit service for our riders while protecting the taxpayer."
Today, York Region notified First Canada it has exercised its legal right of early termination of the North Division contract, otherwise set to expire June 27, 2012. A contract with a new service provider will be presented to York Regional Council on January 26 for review and approval. Details of a service restoration plan for the North Division will then be finalized.
The Region also issued letters today to York BRT Services and Miller Transit requesting a detailed service recovery plan by Friday, January 20, outlining additional region-wide service restoration options while the transit strike continues. The Region continues to review these two additional contracts, and await the results of tomorrow's York BRT Services Ministry of Labour supervised vote with members of ATU Local 113.
Termination of the First Canada contract follows last week's decision by the Region to add 60-foot articulated Viva buses along Route 99, serving Yonge Street between Bernard Terminal and the Finch GO Bus Terminal, replacing the majority of the 40-foot YRT buses on this route.
"Within the last five days, York Region has taken two significant steps to begin adding capacity and restoring service for our transit riders, and we will continue to seek more region-wide solutions," said Chairman Fisch. "The Region cannot restore full service overnight, but we will continue to do all within our power to deliver additional service for the riders who have suffered far too long during this strike."
The Region has allowed ample time for the bargaining process to unfold, and despite efforts to encourage the parties to negotiate an end to this dispute, they have failed to do so, including the recent rejection of Miller Transit's Ministry of Labour supervised offer by 83 per cent. Additionally, First Canada had not been able to arrange a supervised vote on its last contract offer with the Federal Ministry of Labour.
York Region does not have the contractual right to order the parties to arbitration, and Regional Council has been clear in its position not to request back-to-work legislation from the Provincial Government or support arbitration as a means to end the YRT/Viva strike.
YRT/Viva continues to assist transit riders with travel options through the Customer Service Centre at 1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978). Ongoing updates are available on www.yrt.ca/ and www.york.ca/
Residents can also follow York Region on Twitter @YorkRegionGovt and Facebook www.facebook.com/YorkRegion
Thursday, January 12
The Regional Municipality of York takes action to restore transit service to riders
YRT/Viva focuses on service to customers as it puts additional buses into service
The Regional Municipality of York is taking action to restore transit service to residents as ATU Local 113 and ATU Local 1587 and York Region's contracted operators - York BRT Services, Miller Transit and First Canada - have failed to make reasonable progress towards ending the ongoing labour dispute.
Negotiations are non-existent between the unions and contractors, with no movement on the horizon following last week's rejection of Miller Transit's offer in a supervised vote by the Ontario Ministry of Labour. This has left York Region with no choice but to take steps to assist our transit riders.
"The result of the vote on Miller Transit's offer is a clear indication that the unions are not interested in returning to work," said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. "Regional Council's position remains the same - we will not intervene in negotiations, and will not request the Provincial Government to enact back-to-work legislation or support arbitration as a means to end the YRT/Viva strike. But we will not stand by and watch our riders continue to suffer due to the lack of regard the parties involved have for our transit-dependent residents."
York Region does not have the contractual right to direct the contractors to submit to arbitration. To provide as much service in the current strike as lawfully possible, York Region will:
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Begin using 60-foot Viva articulated buses along Route 99, serving Yonge Street between Bernard Terminal and the Finch GO Bus Terminal, effective Friday, January 13, replacing the majority of the existing 40-foot YRT buses currently in operation along this popular route
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Direct YRT/Viva contracted operators to explore every means possible to restore and maximize service to residents
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Further examine the terms and conditions of our contracts with York BRT Services, Miller Transit and First Canada, with a specific focus on additional remedies to improve transit service
"The unions and contractors have had ample time to negotiate a fair agreement," said Chairman Fisch. "We are taking measures to restore as much service as possible, placing our riders at the forefront by putting larger buses in service, getting our commuters out of the cold and where they need to go."
Despite only 40 per cent of the Region's transit service in operation, recent ridership figures show that 62 per cent of riders are taking advantage of the existing YRT/Viva service during the strike.
The Region has spent the last 81 days of the strike looking at long-term, sustainable efficiencies in our transit system that can be implemented upon the resumption of full service, with savings from the efficiencies returned to all York Region taxpayers.
Up to 10 Viva buses will stop at all Route 99 stops, but will not function as typical Viva buses as front-door boarding and on-board payment will be required. Putting larger buses in operation on Route 99 will help alleviate congestion on the 40-foot YRT buses that travel along Yonge Street and will provide relief to passengers otherwise waiting in harsh winter conditions.
YRT/Viva continues to assist transit riders with travel options through the Customer Service Centre at 1-866-MOVE-YRT (668-3978). Ongoing updates are available on www.yrt.ca/ and www.york.ca/
Residents can also follow York Region on Twitter @YorkRegionGovt and Facebook www.facebook.com/YorkRegion
Click here to read previous strike information from November 2011 to
December 2011