GO Transit employees vote in favour of strike if no deal reached

The union representing GO Transit employees says their members have voted 93 per cent in favour of going on a strike if necessary.

The union accused provincial Crown agency Metrolinx of refusing to negotiate on issues such as wages, job security and improved work-life balance. It also accuses Metrolinx of avoiding negotiations since they began in April.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587 represents 2,200 GO Transit bus drivers, plant and fleet maintenance workers, transit safety officers, station attendants and office professionals.

There has not been a date set for a potential strike yet.

The union says GO Transit employees have been working under and expired contract since June 1.

Meanwhile, unrelated to the potential strike, multiple GO Transit train trips have been cancelled this week due to staff illnesses.

Here is the list of cancelled train trips as of now:

• West Harbour GO 05:13 – Union Station 06:30
• Oshawa GO 07:40 – Union Station 08:40
• Oshawa GO 07:55 – Union Station 08:55
• Kitchener GO 07:15 – Union Station 08:58
• Union Station 15:34 – Kitchener GO 17:21

We are sorry to advise that due to staff illnesses we will need to cancel some train trips this week. Please check the Service Updates page before travelling, https://t.co/vwtZS01TiU. Always check the departure boards at your station before boarding.

— Lakeshore West Train (@GOtransitLW) August 7, 2022