York Region is warning commuters that they may be forced to find their own way to work or school Monday if a transit contractor and its union fail to reach a deal and avert a strike.
The drivers, members of Amalgamated Transit Union 113, are in a legal position to strike as of 12:01 a.m. on Monday.
The union and Veolia Transportation Services Canada, which operates 24 bus routes in the region, were holding last-ditch talks Sunday to avert a walkout.
"This scenario provides little advance notice to passengers, residents and (York Region Transit) officials should a strike … be confirmed," the region said in a news release.
Neither the union nor Veolia, one of four contractors which provides York Region's transit service, could be reached for comment.
The 24 bus routes that could be affected by a strike are in York Region's southwest division, primarily in the city of Vaughan, and carry an estimated 28,000 riders a day.
The strike would include 214 bus drivers and mechanics who work on 131 vehicles.
ATU Local 113 president Bob Kinnear says key issues in the talks are wages and sick days.
"We don't want a strike, especially in the middle of February," he said. "We're willing to do anything to avoid a strike, except allow our members to continue working under these sort of conditions."
In the event of the strike, York Region Transit will keep its call centre open late and dispatch employees to busy parts of the region to help riders find other transport options.
All of York region's transit is contracted out, with routes spread between four different private companies and the Toronto Transit Commission.
The rest of the region's transit services, including Viva express buses, TTC routes, and GO trains and buses will still be running.
