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Harri many a hit the r day mo: YRT nanuc a gamma rejected mm. Mi Canada "It w talnly (fl spokesp said. Milk routes includir '< Richmo mspons {hill}: fiunv Tnbunt. myorkup'omcoln I Saturday I m 2: 20) I. 8 film: Barring a last minute dml. as many as four trans“ strikes (‘Ollki hit the region simulIam-nusly Mun- day unmipg. YRT bus drivers and main!“ nancc staff. represented by AmaL gamated 'lransn Unirm I587. miected offers fmm two contrac- tors. Miller transit and; first "ans" Canada. 'I'hurfiday. "II was not unexpected. but cer- tainly disappointing," First Student spokesperson Maureen Richmond said. ' 1 ATU .1587 president Ray Doyie said he is not optimistic a resolu- tion was in the cards. given the resounding defeat of them oflcrs. The Fits! 1hmsit contract wwi mled down by 95 pet cent of wurkâ€" crs and the Milk‘r contract by (1‘3 per rem, he said. Miller is responsible for YR’T routes in the region’s soumeast. including Stoufivine. Markham and Richmond Hill. while First 'Ihmsit is responsible for the north. inchlding Newmarkm and Geotgina. About 250 transit employees arr nuw set to walk off the job Monday. "M'd like to continue negmia- nuns because we'd like to get a 1930» Iution.” Ms Richmond “We‘m not close at all." Mr. lkryiesaidmddmgnonmmalksam YRT, GO bus strikes could slow down your Monday BY DAVID ELEISCNI'LII dflrm hcrtfi‘wmg « um M'ht‘dllk‘d. ' Ho mttphasimd that while the stnkv dato is. set It): midnight. work- vrx wuuld complete their routes and driven; wuuld not leave riders stranded. While Metrolinx won't conunem on details of negotiations. it is oflerâ€" ingawagcfi'eczeovcrtwnycars, accordingthe union. 4 . leia workcts also unanimous- ly rejected a contract offer late \Madnesday. following negotiations ongoing since January. No talks wen- schcdulul as of yesterday. 'l‘Wu mom important transit con- mms are also being negotiated. Parking lots will also remain open. ' About 1,500 (K) workers are set to walk all the job Monday. Bus service would be affected. bul train «wife will continue. Alsu up in the air is Veolia's con- trad with nwmbers of A11) 113, who operate Viva serviaa across the region. 'lhelr watt-act expired In September. They went on strike for two weeks in 2008. Given the" low M and con- (‘cssions they've made on issues such as sick days. the union would like m use mom pmgxesq with ben- t'fits. A‘I'U local 113 president Bob Kinnvar adding the compa- ny wants to [unease how much empkwws pay {Wald their benefit (K) and Y'RT buses may not be running Monday. but GO trains will. program. “11189: employers impose a lot of mummms on their employ- ees." Mr. Kinncax _ Despite York Region’s position the local dispute Ls between the He blamed the region for forca ing contractors :0 bid low ,to win mntracts. union and the contractors. Mr. Doyle said i! is within the region's power to intervene. WN‘WIUK nu H4070. Indeed. the region signed a new five~ycar contract with Miller in hrb- mary. with the collective agreement yet to be negotiated. . YRTdn'vers make less than $23 an hour. while their '1'“: counterparts make just less than 330. Mr. Doyie said. While he acktmwtedgwi the mman was somewhat a matter of apples and oranges, he said the $7 difienenoe is glaring nonetheless. MI. Kinnear partially agmcd _with Mr. Doyie. saying contractors wouldn't submit bids that don't allow them to provide for their employees, “When they bid. they establish a level of benefits they're prepared to pay to make profits." he said. Regional transit staff wfli be on hand at Ienninals Monday to assist riders in the event of a strike. Go to mnSotcom and vrtca #0! more 1W. GO Transit has a contingency plan to maximize its service and. simfla: to WT. fidm to Innk at carpooling and other uptions v H)! bloating news on possubte bus strikes.90 to Mmqionmm WEEKEND UPDATES