Commuters who rely on public transit in York Region are scrambling to get around Monday because of a strike involving 60 per cent of the region's routes.
Buses in York Region Transit's southeast and north divisions, and five Viva express routes are parked after drivers and mechanics walked off the job at 4 a.m.
Their union and employers failed to reach a new contract before a previously-set strike deadline.
With 85 routes affected, the strike is creating problems for people who take the bus.
Agatha, a transit user, said her 80-year-old father got up with her at 5:15 a.m. to drive her to Finch Station so she could get to work.
"It's very frustrating," Agatha said of the strike. "I have to rely on other people to pick me up and take me somewhere."
Other commuters told CP24 they carpooled, took a cab or walked to fill in the gaps caused by the labour strife.
The last time a transit strike occurred in York Region was in 2008, when drivers walked the picket lines for two weeks.
YRT contracts Miller Transit to provide service to 51 bus routes in the southeast division, which covers Markham, Richmond Hill, Whitchurch-Stouffville and part of Vaughan. First Canada has a contract to provide bus service for 29 routes in Newmarket, Aurora and parts of Richmond Hill, East Gwillimbury and Georgina.
Click here for a list of affected routes.
No picket lines
About 340 employees in York Region Transit's southeast and north divisions are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587.
ATU Local 1587 president Ray Doyle said workers aren't walking picket lines Monday. He placed the blame on local politicians.
"We regret the inconvenience this causes for York Region Transit users and we urge them to contact their councillors and mayors," Doyle said in a news release. "The politicians are the ones who are ultimately responsible for this mess and they are the ones who must fix it."
Doyle said the main issues of contention revolve around pay and benefits in comparison to other transit operators.
"These private companies are raking in profits by the millions from taxpayers and passengers, while paying their employees seven dollars an hour less than transit workers doing the same jobs in adjoining cities," he said. "This is not a sustainable situation."
About 220 Viva employees are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113.
Union president Bob Kinnear said wages are the main sticking point.
Meanwhile, a strike that would have created even further commuter chaos was averted when the union representing GO Transit bus drivers agreed to a tentative contract Sunday.
