One of the union locals and two contractors involved in the York Region Transit strike are heading back to the bargaining table with the strike now in its ninth week.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587 and contractors Miller Transit and First Canada have scheduled contract talks in another attempt to bring an end to their labour dispute.
No talks are scheduled for Veolia Transportation and members of ATU Local 113.
Union members walked picket lines at Keele Street and Bowes Road in Vaughan, York Region headquarters on Yonge Street in Newmarket and GO Transit's Steeprock garage on Steeprock Drive in Toronto on Wednesday.
GO Transit and TTC buses were held up for several minutes at a time, in addition to YRT buses that are still running during the strike.
For people who are frustrated by delays caused by the picket lines, there appears to be some good news. Members of both union locals will take a break from picketing during the Christmas holiday, starting tomorrow, officials told CP24.
The start of the break will coincide with a court hearing involving York Region, which is seeking an injunction against the picketers in court Thursday.
York Region claims the picket lines are "unlawful," have caused "unreasonable delays" and have created unsafe conditions for transit riders, motorists and pedestrians.
An injunction would limit picket lines and ease traffic delays, the region said.
More than 550 YRT bus drivers and mechanics, employed by Miller Transit, First Canada and Veolia Transportation, who are all contracted by York Region, went on strike 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
