Region of Waterloo says GRT buses will run Friday — Grt

Grand River Transit services will continue uninterrupted on Friday, and the Region of Waterloo has not received a strike notice from Unifor Local 4304. The union enters a legal strike position at 12:01 a.m. Friday, but buses are set to keep running while talks continue.

Waterloo bargaining table

The Region of Waterloo and Unifor Local 4304 have been at the bargaining table all week. As of Thursday afternoon, negotiations were still continuing, leaving Friday service intact for riders who depend on GRT buses.

Unifor Local 4304 represents approximately 850 GRT workers, including bus operators. The union is seeking a collective agreement that addresses wages, scheduling, and benefits, while the region says it is committed to reaching a deal that is competitive for GRT staff and affordable for residents.

MobilityPLUS service risk

A strike by the workers would affect GRT buses and MobilityPLUS services, making the labor talks the main issue for riders and customers watching the deadline. For now, the immediate practical outcome is simple: Friday service remains in place, and no strike notice has been issued to the region.

The next point of pressure comes as soon as the legal strike position begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday. If the two sides reach a deal before then, the service risk goes away; if they do not, the affected services named in the talks are the buses and MobilityPLUS.