Durham Transit Union Announces Early Bus Service Suspension Friday Night Amid Pending Strike Threat
Over 600 Durham transit workers prepare for potential strike amid stalled contract talks, threatening to halt bus services across the region.
More than 600 Durham transit operators, maintenance workers, and dispatchers are preparing for a possible work stoppage as contract negotiations between Unifor Local 222 and Durham Region approach a critical juncture. The union has announced that bus service across the region will end early at 11 p.m. on Friday, ahead of a potential strike set to commence just after midnight on Saturday.
The move is intended to ensure a smooth and safe transition in the event of a service disruption. “Although the union will be in a legal strike position effective June 7, it does not necessarily mean that there will be a work disruption on that date,” union officials stated in a recent update. However, they emphasized that should an agreement not be reached and members choose to walk off the job, bus services in communities including Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge, and Whitby could be halted indefinitely.
Negotiations have been ongoing since March 31, with several rounds of talks failing to produce a deal that satisfies both sides. The region is expected to table a final offer on Thursday, but union representatives have signaled skepticism about whether it will sufficiently address their outstanding concerns. Among the most pressing issues is the wage gap between Durham Region Transit employees and transit workers in neighboring “905-area code” municipalities, such as Mississauga and Brampton, where workers reportedly earn up to $5 more per hour.
The union’s determination was highlighted by a recent strike mandate vote on May 21, which saw 98 percent of members voting in favor of strike action if an agreement cannot be reached. This overwhelming support amplifies pressure on the region to deliver significant concessions in ongoing negotiations.
While uncertainty looms for thousands of daily transit users, Unifor Local 222 assured the public that if no strike occurs, regular service will resume on Saturday. For now, all eyes are on Thursday’s final offer, with commuters and workers alike waiting to see if buses will keep rolling through Durham after this week.
