Durham Region Transit workers will walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. Saturday unless the region — located in the eastern Greater Toronto Area — provides an acceptable final offer Thursday, potentially disrupting service for more than 14 million annual riders across eight communities.
Unifor Local 222, representing 616 transit operators, maintenance workers, dispatchers and specialized service staff, voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action on May 21. The union says chronic underfunding and wage gaps are driving the labour dispute.
Wage gap fuels dispute
The key issue centres on closing a wage gap with transit workers in nearby municipalities like Mississauga and Brampton, who earn up to $5 more per hour for identical work, union officials said.
“We are fighting tirelessly to close this unjust wage gap and secure a fair contract that recognizes the hard work, dedication and professionalism of DRT members,” said Unifor Local 222 President Jeff Gray.
The affected communities include Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge and Whitby.
Service concerns mount
Gray highlighted operational challenges stemming from underfunding, noting that overcrowding causes delays that frustrate riders.
“Riders get frustrated when buses are late – but the real issue is overcrowding caused by underfunding. And who do you think riders are going to blame first when they come face-to-face with our members?” Gray said.
Regional investment promises unfulfilled
Durham Region promised in 2024 to invest in public transit to meet projected growth, but union officials say those commitments haven’t resulted in meaningful improvements.
“Strike action is not something we take lightly, but chronic underfunding and wage gaps are systemic issues across transit authorities throughout Canada. It’s time to end wage disparity and show that equal work deserves equal pay,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
The union expects Durham Region to present a final offer to the bargaining committee Thursday, though officials expressed doubt it will prevent the weekend strike.
Unifor represents 21,000 members in road transportation across Canada, including 7,600 transit operators and skilled trades workers in urban transit systems. The union is Canada’s largest private-sector union with 320,000 members.
