The light seems to be glowing at the end of the tunnel for transit passengers in York Region, who have been without much of their regular service during the current labour disruption since Monday, October 24. The Region of York, two of its private transit contractors and one of two local unions have resolved their differences and some buses may start operating as early as next Saturday, February 4. Employees of a third contractor — members of a second local — vote tomorrow, Saturday, January 27, whether to accept their employer’s latest contract offer.

However, elsewhere in the Golden Horseshoe, another strike — this time affecting Hamilton Street Railway service — is brewing.

The City of Hamilton and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 107 met earlier this week, with the help of a provincially appointed conciliator / mediator and continue to work towards reaching a collective agreement. The City has tabled a revised offer to the union and both parties have agreed to meet again today, Friday, January 27.

The two parties will be in a legal strike or lockout position at 12:01 a.m. Monday, January 30. ATU Local 107 represents HSR bus operators, mechanics and other transit workers.

In the event of a labour disruption, there would be no HSR transit service on any route throughout the city. Burlington Transit and GO Transit buses would continue to operate in Hamilton.

Employees of the Disabled and Aged Regional Transportation System (DARTS), the accessible transit service provider for the City, are not members of ATU. In the event of a labour disruption, DARTS would continue to deliver its specialized transit service, although it may need to make some changes to its system for reserving services during the strike.

Meanwhile, over in Barrie, mechanics, bus drivers and support staff, members of the ATU’s Local 1415, accepted an offer from their employer, First Canada, Monday, January 24.

The City of Barrie contracts First Canada to operate Barrie Transit. Until last week, the Region of York also contracted First Canada to provide service in York Region Transit’s Northern Division.

According to the Barrie Examiner, the transit employees had been without a contract since last March. Neither the employer nor the union have released details of the contract offer.