Dorraine Mitchell
Tracy Nguyen
Contributors
As the York Regional Transit (YRT) strike enters its 12th week of disputes, it has frustrated the community of York Region, leaving them to depend on cabbing, carpooling, and cycling to go about their lives.
Di Huyen, a second-year communication studies major, has even considered getting a car due to the inconvenience that the strike has caused.
“This strike has caused me to severely distrust the YRT,” she says. “During this time I’ve seriously thought about getting a car and doing away with transit altogether.”
Second-year kinesiology student James Pinto is disappointed that students must deal with issues that are out of their control.
“It’s unfortunate that students continuously have to deal with the consequences […] the YRT strike is a good example of this.”
The workers, represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 (ATU 113), are demanding a wage increase that would have them financially on par with other bus drivers in the Greater Toronto Area. YRT drivers are paid seven dollars less per hour than workers from other transit systems. In addition, they are also asking for more comprehensive health care benefits.
YRT contractors refused these two demands, causing the strike to commence October 24, 2011.
Since December 5, 2011, ATU 113 and YRT have continuously met for negotiations. To date, the parties have not reached a desired outcome.
With files from Excalibur archives
