There's a sign of some movement in the York Region Transit strike, as employees of two of the contractors involved are set to vote on contract offers.
Leaders of two Amalgamated Transit Union locals initially rejected putting the latest offers from Miller Transit and Veolia Transportation to their members for a vote, but a ruling by the Ontario Labour Relations Board is forcing the union locals to present the offer to striking employees.
Under the supervision of the OLRB, ATU Local 1587 employees, who are employed by Miller Transit, are expected to vote on their contract offer Friday, while members of ATU Local 113, who are employed by Veolia Transportation, are expected to vote next week.
Miller Transit and Veolia Transportation went to the OLRB and requested the supervised contract vote.
Miller Transit has sent letters to its employees to convince them to accept the latest offer.
Workers continue to picket
Meanwhile, striking workers continue to demonstrate in York Region as the strike nears its 11th week.
Members of ATU Local 1587 are picketing outside Miller Transportation's main yard on Woodbine Avenue on Wednesday. Strikers are holding up vehicles, including garbage trucks, as they exit the yard.
More than 550 YRT bus drivers and mechanics, employed by contractors Miller Transit, First Canada and Veolia Transportation, have been on strike since Oct. 24, 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
