Durham Region Transit workers have reached a tentative agreement with their employer, preventing a potential work stoppage that could have disrupted service for more than 14 million annual riders.
Unifor Local 222 announced the deal was reached June 6 with Durham Region after negotiations that saw union members vote 98% in favour of strike action if talks failed.
The agreement covers approximately 616 workers including transit operators, maintenance staff, dispatch personnel and specialized services employees across eight Durham municipalities: Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge and Whitby.
Agreement details remain confidential
Union officials said details of the tentative agreement will not be released until members vote on ratification in the coming days.
The potential strike had threatened to leave thousands of daily commuters without public transit service in Canada’s fastest-growing region east of Toronto.
Durham Region Transit operates bus routes connecting communities from Pickering in the west to Port Hope in the east, with many riders depending on the service to reach GO Transit stations and employment centres.
Union represents transit workers across Ontario
Unifor represents 21,000 members in the road transportation sector nationwide, including 7,600 transit operators and skilled trades workers in urban transit systems.
The union’s Local 222 chapter in Oshawa has been involved in several high-profile labour disputes in recent years, representing workers in both public transit and automotive manufacturing.
Union members had authorized strike action on May 21, giving leadership a strong mandate to push for improved wages and working conditions during negotiations.
The tentative agreement must still be ratified by union members before taking effect.
