Strike information

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you tell me more about the strike?
2. How long could the strike last?
3. What routes in York Region are NOT affected by this labour dispute?
4. Are contingencies planned for the affected routes?
5. Can I exchange or refund my YRT/Viva Monthly Pass?
6. Can I refund my GTA Weekly Pass?
7. Why is York Region not involved in the labour negotiations?
8. How can I contact the contractors involved?
9. How can I contact the unions involved?
10. How does privatization of operations work?
11. How is YRT/Viva funded?
12. Would bringing operations of transit internally -- to create a public, rather than private model -- protect us from strikes and save us money? What about essential service designation?
13. Will there still be a fare increase in January 2012?

14. What routes are included in the North Division?

1. Can you tell me more about the strike?

York Region's contract with Miller Transit includes 51 YRT routes operating in the Towns of Markham, Richmond Hill and Whitchurch-Stouffville, with some routes in the City of Vaughan. The contract involves 156 YRT vehicles and provides service to 16,000 daily weekday riders.

York Region's contract with First Canada includes 29 YRT routes operating in the Towns of Newmarket and Aurora, with some routes in the Towns of Richmond Hill, East Gwillimbury and Georgina. The contract involves 63 YRT vehicles and provides service to 6,000 daily weekday riders.

York Region's contract with York BRT Service LP (Viva) involves five Viva routes operating in the Towns of Newmarket, Aurora, Richmond Hill, Markham and the City of Vaughan. The contract involves 116 Viva vehicles and provides service to approximately 24,500 daily weekday riders.

2. How long could the strike last?

We don't know at this time. York Region remains optimistic that contract agreements will be reached. Updates will be made available on yrt.ca.

3. What routes in York Region are NOT affected by this labour dispute?

• All 24 YRT routes in Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Aurora, Markham and King City operated by Veolia Transportation Canada Inc.
• All 11 TTC routes operating in York Region.
• All YRT Mobility Plus transit service, however 'Family of Services' status is suspended during a labour dispute.
• The four community bus routes in Markham, Richmond Hill, and Newmarket operated by Veolia Transportation Canada Inc. under a separate contract.
• Brampton Transit's Züm

4. Are contingencies planned for the affected routes?

YRT/Viva contracts the operation of public transit services to the private sector and the TTC. As a result, York Region does not directly employ bus operators, mechanics and other support staff required by the contractor to deliver transit services to the Region. Routes not connected with the labour dispute would continue to operate based on current schedules. In the interim, customers would be encouraged to make alternate travel arrangements such as:

• Use of available YRT/Viva services
• Car pooling - www.smartcommute.ca
• Alternate route arrangements
• Use of north/south TTC routes operating in York Region to connect to and from the Toronto subway system
• GO Route 69 - Sutton
• Use of available GO Transit services

5. Can I exchange or refund my YRT/Viva Monthly Pass?

The deadline for YRT/Viva October and November 2011 Monthly Pass refunds was October 31, 2011. Refund requests are no longer being accepted.

6. Can I refund my GTA Weekly Pass?

The deadline for GTA Weekly Pass refunds for Week 44 was October 31, 2011. Refund requests are no longer being accepted. 

7. Why is York Region not involved in the labour negotiations?

York Region contracts the operations of public transit services to four private contractors and the TTC. This means YRT/Viva does not directly employ bus operators and is not involved in current negotiations. All matters related to wages and benefits are between the contractors and their unionized employees. York Region remains hopeful that an agreement will be reached.

8. How can I contact the contractors involved?

To speak with a representative for the contractors involved in the current labour disruption, see below:

First Canada

Tim Stokes
Media Relations Manager, FirstGroup America Inc.

Toll Free: 1-866-244-6383
Telephone: 513-419-8648
(Please press 0 to be connected to the operator and ask to speak with Tim Stokes)

Media: 513-362-4600

Email: tim.stokes@firstgroup.com

 

York BRT Services (Viva)

Valerie Michael
Director of Corporate Communications, Veolia Transportation

Toll Free: 1-888-382-1149
Telephone: 702-425-8419

Fax: 702-430-9608

Email: vivastrikeinfo@veoliatransdev.com

 

Miller Transit

Norma Sanderson

Telephone: 905-475-1367

Email: millertransit.customercomments@millergroup.ca

9. How can I contact the unions involved?

To contact the unions involved in the current labour disruption, see below:

ATU Local 1587
(striking against Miller Transit and First Canada)

Local: 416-695-3896

Toll free: 1-800-895-1406

Fax: 416-695-3651

Email: contactus@atu1587.ca

Website: http://atu1587.ca/

 

ATU Local 113
(striking against York BRT Services )

Phone: 416-398-5113

Toll free: 1-800-245-9929

Fax: 416-398-4978

Email: info@wemovetoronto.ca

Website: http://wemovetoronto.ca/

10. How does privatization of operations work?

• York Region contracts operation of public transit services to four private contractors and the TTC. This means YRT/Viva does not directly employ bus operators. This is a strike by ATU Local 1587 against Miller Transit and First Canada, and ATU Local 113 against York BRT Services. The issues related to wages and benefits are between the contracted operators (the employers) and the unionized employees. York Region is not at the bargaining table and will not interfere in the negotiations required to resolve this labour dispute.
• The private contractors running YRT/Viva service have won their contracts through a competitive bidding process which ensures taxpayers are getting the best value for their tax dollar. The successful contractors are charged with handling all aspects of operations and management, including wage and benefit adjustments for their employees.
• Privatization has worked well for York Region and others in the surrounding area, including Barrie and Durham Transit (Whitby Division). There are also transit agencies in the United States, including Phoenix, Denver and Las Vegas, that also use this successful model.
• YRT/Viva has only one prior strike in its history and the privatized model has helped keep costs as low as possible for transit riders and taxpayers.
• This privatized model extends back over 30 years to the days of municipally-operated transit service in York Region and was maintained when amalgamation of transit service took place 10 years ago in 2001.
• York Region also contracts out full or partial delivery of other services, including construction of roads, sewers and watermains, snow clearing and road line painting.

11. How is YRT/Viva funded?

• YRT/Viva recovers less than 40 per cent of costs through fares with taxes used to subsidize the remaining costs of over 60 per cent. Asking York Region to provide additional funding to resolve this labour dispute would mean asking more of the taxpayers and transit riders who together fund YRT/Viva service.
• York Region does subsidize transit at a higher level than some communities, but generally most public transit systems are highly subsized -- a direct result of the high costs associated with providing the service. Transit providers that have longer service histories, larger populations and substantially higher ridership have the opportunity to recover more costs from fares, putting less pressure on the taxpayer.
• As a relatively young transit system with growing ridership, YRT/Viva serves an average of 77,000 riders a day. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) recently broke records with ridership of 1.71 million in a single day. It is difficult to compare transit systems throughout the GTA and the province. All cities and Regions face different challenges to meet the specific needs of their communities and riders.
• No one stands to gain from a strike -- the contracted operators, striking union members or York Region. Contractors who are not delivering YRT/Viva service are not paid by the Region, striking members of the ATU are not getting their paycheques and any funds retained by York Region from unpaid contractor fees will appear as part of an operating surplus in 2011. Any additional funding from York Region to pay for higher transit costs would require a tax increase, a fare increase, or both.

12. Would bringing operations of transit internally -- to create a public, rather than private model -- protect us from strikes and save us money? What about essential service designation?

• Generally, publicly-owned transit operations are more expensive to run than their private counterparts. Public ownership in York Region would mean an increased burden on taxpayers and riders. It would not make financial sense to take on a model that would actually cost more -- for everyone.
• Public ownership does not remove the potential for strikes. Unionized employees have the right to strike, whether employed in the public or private sector.
• Some look to "'Essential Service" designation as a solution, but it is not something YRT/Viva or most other transit agencies can pursue. It is rare for any entities outside of emergency services to make a strong argument for this designation.

13. Will there still be a fare increase in January 2012?

• This past September, York Regional Council approved a fare increase for January 1, 2012. The fare increase must move forward as service will resume, transit costs remain and YRT/Viva must continue to grow and improve services for a rapidly growing population. This represents the first fare increase in three years. Operating costs have risen 25 per cent since YRT/Viva's last fare change.
• York Region's transit system covers a very large geographic area and serves nine municipalities with differing population densities, making it relatively expensive to operate. Substantial transportation investment is required to help shape sustainable growth and development for the Region under the Provincial Growth Plan.
• York Region is expected to grow to more than 1.5 million people by 2031 due in part to Ontario's Places to Grow legislation, which sets out a comprehensive growth strategy for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Golden Horseshoe.
• Critical transportation infrastructure projects required in York Region to accommodate growth over the next 30 years will require substantial investment. The draft York Region Transportation Master Plan Update has estimated the cost to implement projects to meet the growth demands of Places to Grow at $18.3 billion.
• York Regional Council will continue to direct substantial budget dollars to completion of transit growth projects. In 2011, roughly 17 cents of every York Region tax dollar was assigned to transit, second only to police services.

14. What routes are included in the North Division?

YRT/Viva's North Division contract, formerly operated by First Transit Canada, includes 16 YRT conventional routes, three GO shuttles and 10 High School Specials.

YRT routes

High School Specials

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