Region of Waterloo approves agreement with Canadian Auto Workers, Local 4304

Waterloo Region – The Region of Waterloo approved a three-year agreement with the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) Local 4304 representing Grand River Transit/MobilityPLUS operators, dispatchers, fleet mechanics and service attendants.

“A three-year agreement gives transit users certainty that buses will be running for them,” said Regional Chair Ken Seiling. ”Building transit ridership will be a major focus in the coming years.”

This is a three-year agreement from Jan. 1, 2011 until Dec. 31, 2013, with a two per cent across the board wage increase for all classifications in each year of the agreement.  

The total cost of the agreement, is 5.9 per cent over the 36-month agreement.

"We're pleased that we were able to reach a fair and reasonable settlement,” said Mike Murray, Chief Administrative Officer. "This agreement recognizes the significant contributions of our transit operators, mechanics and service attendants, and the important role that Grand River Transit service plays in the community."

The Region of Waterloo created Grand River Transit in January 2000. GRT employs more than 450 members of CAW Local 4304. In 2010 GRT conventional transit ridership was 18 million and our specialized transit service, MobilityPLUS provides over 800 trips daily to approximately 400 customers. Continuing to enhance transit service and increase ridership is one of the key elements of the Region’s Growth Management Strategy.

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For further information please contact:

Bryan Stortz, Director of Corporate Communications, 519-575-4408