Grand River Transit workers went out on strike on Tuesday morning

***See updated story: Talks broke off Wednesday afternoon***

Talks will resume Wednesday to try and end a strike by Grand River Transit workers.

"We are hopeful an agreement can be reached, transit services can be restored to the community and our employees can return to work." the region wrote in a Tweet on Wednesday morning.

"Our bargaining team and theirs agreed that we should sit down and at least have discussion about what the outstanding issues are and see if there's ways we can resolve them." explained Mike Murray, CAO for the Region of Waterloo.



The strike, which is into its second day, was triggered when workers voted a tentative deal down at a ratification vote on Sunday.

On Tuesday morning, the region said it had offered GRT drivers, dispatchers and service attendants a six per cent pay increase, over three years - while mechanics would receive a 15 per cent pay increase.

The president of Unifor Local 4304, which represents the workers, said compensation was not what union members had issue with, their main concern is a safe working environment.

"All the public gets to go to work or school everyday in a safe environment. We just want the same thing." Tim Jewell told 570 NEWS.

During negotiations over the last several weeks, the region says both sides did agree to install safety barriers on the entire GRT fleet, starting this year.

