Striking York Region Transit workers returned to the picket line Tuesday morning after taking a break during the holidays.
As the strike nears its 11th week, workers picketed outside a Veolia Transportation yard on Caldari Road, near Rutherford Road and Jane Street, in Vaughan, and outside York Region headquarters on Yonge Street in Newmarket.
According to York Region, First Canada has temporarily laid off administrative and other employees at its Mulock Drive garage because of the strike, which began Oct. 24.
Last month, a judge approved an injunction sought by York Region and imposed restrictions on strikers' picketing tactics.
The striking workers can continue to picket and hold up buses, but the judge barred flash pickets and reduced the amount of time buses can be blocked.
Picketers can only hold up buses for three minutes at a time, and they can hold up no more than five vehicles at a time.
Workers cannot delay transit riders as they get on and off buses, and they cannot hold up transit vehicles for people with mobility issues.
More than 550 YRT bus drivers and mechanics, employed by contractors Miller Transit, First Canada and Veolia Transportation, are on strike, shutting down about 60 per cent of the region's bus routes.
The strike is affecting more than 44,000 riders every day.
ATU Local 1587 represents about 340 employees in YRT's southeast and north divisions, while 220 Viva employees are represented by ATU Local 113.
With files from CP24's Cam Woolley
