The YRT Strike, My Personal View

Many of you may have been affected by the strike that has been going on now well into 5 weeks with no end it seems in sight.  During the past few weeks, I have spoken to our MPP Frank Klees a couple of times along with the Mayor and our Regional Councillor on many occasions. Yesterday I asked to be included in a phone call to Rick Leary, who is the General Manager of Transit at York Region. And then last night, we had a deputation made to as Council from Ms. Lori Rose, resident of Newmarket , representing First Student – Newmarket Branch Transit Workers. I have done as much investigation into this fairly complicated process to better understand and educate myself on the very complicated issue that is facing many individuals, riders, workers, and the employers.
As many of you are aware, the Back to Work, private members bill that was proposed by Peter Shurman failed at Legislation last week.  Now, the only way to re-introduce this would be for the Liberal Government to bring it forward for a vote.
Bottom line is that the parties are just not talking to one another…there is no end in sight for the end of this strike.  We ask our residents to use Public Transportation and thousands depend on it to get to work, school and day to day necessities.   At this point, I feel that binding arbitration is the only solution to get the buses back on the roads. Is it going to cost us? Yes, it will, perhaps through our taxes, or through increased fares.  Perhaps there are other solutions, such as revisiting the service structure to see if there can be savings there.  But, by not pushing for binding arbitration, it is also going to cost us. Lost jobs, a lost school year and lost business within our communities.  That is a cost as well.
I encourage our York Region Council this week to seriously consider the options and to ask our Provincial Government to enact a Back to Work Legislation.