Ryan Bird Reports on VIVA Bus Strike

Thousands of VIVA bus riders in York Region have been left scrambling to find an alternate ride. VIVA bus drivers began a strike at 4am on Thursday after voting 61 percent against a tentative deal reach on Sunday with Veolia Transportation, the company that operates the bus line.

Listen to Ryan Bird's report

The two sides had negotiated through this past weekend and worked out a tentative deal, averting a work stoppage that had been threatened for Monday.

"The members were unhappy with the proposed settlement and felt they deserved something closer to the contract standards for transit workers in Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga," said ATU Local 113 President Bob Kinnear.

"They're looking for a better offer on wages, sick days and the benefits package and we hope the company has received that message clearly."

The remaining two-thirds of York Region's transit service will continue to operate. YRT says it does not have the capacity to serve all of the 35,000 riders who rely on Viva each weekday.