Grand River Transit workers get 9.88% wage and benefit increase over 3 years in new contract
Buses set to resume service Thursday with no fares being collected until May 22
Grand River Transit workers will receive a 9.88 per cent increase in wages and benefits over the next three years, the Region of Waterloo says.
Unifor Local 4304, which represents the drivers, mechanics and service attendants, agreed to a new contract with the region this week.
Workers, who had walked off the job May 1 after turning down the region's first offer, voted in favour of a new contract on Tuesday.
Bus service is set to resume Thursday morning.
The region said the wage adjustments broken down are:
- Three per cent on May 1 of this year, plus a one-time market adjustment of $1 per hour.
- 2.25 per cent on May 1, 2024.
- 2.25 per cent on May 1, 2025.
The region did not release any other details of the contract. Brendan Burke, president of Unifor Local 4304, previously said the two biggest issues for workers were "scheduling work-life balance and wages."
Regional council is set to meet Thursday at 5 p.m. for a special council meeting to ratify the agreement with the union.
The region says as a gesture to customers, fares won't be collected between Thursday and May 22 on the entire GRT network, which includes buses, Mobility Plus and the Ion LRT.