After over a week of striking, Grand River Transit (GRT) workers have won improved working conditions for themselves. Over 700 drivers, mechanics, vehicle service attendants, and dispatchers went on strike January 21 in the Waterloo Region for improved working conditions and pay. The main focus of the strike was over improved safety for drivers and over the way GRT management was using security cameras to spy on workers and harshly discipline them with long-standing consequences.

Initially their representative union, Unifor 4304, negotiated a tentative agreement with GRT and brought it back to their membership for approval. In a move that surprised both GRT and Unifor, workers rejected the contract, which would have kept disciplinary measures intact, and went on strike for the first time ever.

Since GRT workers are contractually prevented from speaking to media about their struggle, Unifor President Tim Jewell became their voice on media outlets. However, he had little to say in comparison to the steady flow of output from the region. Articles and interviews were published painting transit workers as selfish or greedy; the region released certain details of the agreement to encourage this, while neglecting to mention the struggle over discipline entirely.

Fortunately, transit workers were undaunted and in good spirits on the picket line outside the bus depot on Strasburg Road. Even drivers who were unaffected by the contract change directly stood on the line, as cheerfully as anyone can in the middle of winter, confident the strike was necessary. Their hard work has paid off.

The deal that workers ratified changed the contract to prevent excessive discipline, to install safety barriers on all buses with input from the union on barrier types and implementation, to increase wages, and to improve contracts for part-time and casual workers.