Update — Thursday, March 26, 11:59 p.m.: The strike has ended, with members of Local 3902 accepting binding arbitration. Buses resume regular service to the campuses tomorrow, Friday, March 27.

Update — Tuesday, March 17, 7:39 p.m. — Starting today, the TTC is revising the detour routing for buses operating along the 38 Highland Creek route.

Update — 9:11 a.m.: DRT advises that its buses are now dropping off passengers at the TTC stop on the northeast corner of Ellesmere Road and Military Trail. They’re picking up passengers at the TTC stop on the southwest corner of Ellesmere and Military Trail.

Update — 8:31 a.m.: MiWay has provided detour routing information for buses that usually serve the Mississauga campus. See the list at the end of this post.

Update — 8:26 a.m.: GO Transit advises that its buses are not serving the Scarborough campus bus loop, and that it is providing temporary on-street stops. Westbound passengers can board GO vuses at the TTC stop on Military Trail, south of Ellesmere Road across the street from the campus bus loop. Eastbound passengers can board GO buses at the TTC stop on the northwest corner of Ellesmere Road at Military Trail.

Update — 8:20 a.m.: DRT says its buses are operating along their regular routes near the campus.

Update — 7:31 a.m.: The TTC is detailing how its buses are detouring near the Scarborough campus. See the list at the end of this post.

Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3902 representing employees of the University of Toronto are on strike at campuses today, Monday, March 3. According to CBC News Toronto,

“Thousands of striking University of Toronto teaching assistants are planning to set up picket lines at three Toronto-area campuses on Monday morning… “Students have been told classes will go ahead at the university’s three campuses — in downtown Toronto, Mississauga and Scarborough — but there may be some strike-related interruptions to some labs and tutorials. Erin Black, the chair of the teaching assistant’s union, said students will notice a difference. ‘Some lectures may proceed, but the small group discussion and learning — that won’t be happening.’ “The some 7,000 teaching assistants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees 3902, had a tentative deal in place last Friday but voted overwhelmingly to reject it…”

Why is this a transit issue? Transit agencies will not allow their vehicles to cross picket lines, so buses will likely drop off or pick up passengers on nearby streets. The picketers also have the legal right to temporarily delay all traffic entering the campus so expect traffic to back up on nearby streets, delaying buses.

At U of T’s Scarborough campus, the strike affects service for buses operating along these Durham Region Transit routes:

900 PULSE ; and

; and 923 Bayly.

It also affects buses operating along this GO Transit route:

51 Pickering / York U.

It also affects buses operating along these TTC routes:

38 Highland Creek ;

; 95 York Mills local;

local; 95E York Mills express;

express; 198 U of T Scarborough rocket; and

rocket; and 354 Lawrence East overnight.

Above Map of TTC detours until March 17.

Above: Map of TTC detours after March 17.

At U of T Mississauga, the strike affects buses operating along these MiWay routes:

Buses do not enter the St. George campus, but picketers have the legal right to briefly stop all vehicles entering and leaving the campus. That may, in turn delay traffic on nearby streets, including Bay Street, College Street, Queen’s Park, Spadina Avenue and Bloor Street West and also delay TTC buses and streetcars operating along these routes: