Toronto’s Union Station strike could cause disruptions for Mississauga, Brampton and Hamilton commuters
Published April 20, 2022 at 6:33 am
Commuters should prepare for possible services disruptions at Toronto’s Union Station today after nearly 100 employees at the transportation hub walked off the job.
Ninety-five workers with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers went on strike at 12:01 a.m. after the union and Toronto Terminals Railway failed to reach an agreement.
The workers are mainly responsible for signals and communication maintenance as well as train control at the Union Station rail corridor.
TTR says it has a contingency plan that will ensure commuter service runs efficiently and minimize any impact on customers.
A spokeswoman for the transit agency Metrolinx says it is working with TTR to ensure “continued and safe operation” of GO Transit and Union Pearson Express trains at Union Station during the labour action.
However, Anne Marie Aikins says the risk of delays and cancellations at the hub could increase if there is a long labour disruption.
Videos
Metrolinx, which is currently operating more than 300 trains daily in an out of Union Station, is advising customers to sign up for service alerts and check the GO and UP Express train schedule before leaving home.
Aikins says Toronto Transit Commission subway service won’t be affected.
TTR says the workers have been without a new contract since December 2019.
In a statement, the operator says it began negotiations with the union at the beginning of 2020, but talks were delayed due to the pandemic. They resumed last summer.
The employer says a tentative agreement was reached in September 2021, but it was not ratified by the union members.
TTR says increased wage demands from the union are at the heart of the matter.
insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising