Residents across Waterloo Region won’t have to worry about missing the bus, as workers with Grand River Transit (GRT) and the Region of Waterloo have fully ratified their new 3-year deal.
Unifor Local 4304, the local union representing those 820 bus drivers, MoliblityPLUS operators, and more, said they’ve agreed with the new contract, which includes “significant wage and benefit gains.”
“Grand River Transit workers stood united through this round of bargaining and secured an agreement that reflects the value of the essential work they do every day,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“These are the workers who keep communities across Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge moving, and this contract is a direct result of their solidarity and resolve.”
According to those union workers, the main challenges at the bargaining table were wages and “outsourcing language.”
“Our members made it clear that fair wages and protecting our work from contracting out were non-negotiable, and our bargaining committee delivered on both,” said Unifor Local 4304 President Heath Abbott.
“This agreement strengthens our members’ livelihoods today and protects the future of public transit jobs in this region.”
With the agreement now fully ratified, the three-year deal will now move into the hands of regional councillors, who will look to finalize the deal during a special council meeting later in the week.
“The Region is committed to providing a modern, competitive workplace across the organization, and we value the work of all employees who provide critical services to over 650,000 residents on a daily basis,” the Region of Waterloo said in a statement.
That new 3-year deal will now be in place until Apr. 30, 2029.
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