VAUGHAN, Ont. - A transit strike has been averted in York Region.
York Region Transit workers voted 114-83 on Friday to accept a tentative settlement reached on Feb. 13.
The settlement had been rejected in a Feb. 16 vote, but the union called a re-vote following a petition from its membership.
The four-year agreement calls for wage increases totalling 10.5 per cent over the life of the contract, plus a signing bonus of $600 per worker.
Other features of the settlement include four paid sick days annually, and a phased-in recognition of seniority for workers' service with a prior transit contractor.
A strike would have affected 24 York Region Transit bus routes, primarily in Vaughan, and some routes in Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Aurora, Markham and the Township of King.
"Because there appeared to be some misunderstanding about the application of the monetary parts of the settlement, we accepted the members' petition and allowed the re-vote," said Bob Kinnear, President of Amalgamated Transit Workers Local 113.
"This was an unusual situation but it has now been resolved," Kinnear said.
