Buses won’t run if next week’s strike goes ahead, Gatineau transit agency says

OttawaThe Gatineau, Que., transit agency says it couldn’t safely run buses without the workers threatening to strike Monday, and is asking riders to start making backup plans.STO asks riders to make backup plans starting Monday, Oct. 20CBC News · Posted: Oct 16, 2025 9:33 AM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoThe Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) handled an average of nearly 40,000 rides a day in 2024. (Jonathan Dupaul/CBC)Gatineau’s transit agency says it couldn’t safely run buses without the workers threatening to strike Monday, and is asking riders to start making backup plans.ATU 1557, which represents about 50 workers including mechanic supervisors and trainers with the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO), said during a news conference on Tuesday its members plan to walk off the job starting Oct. 20.They’ve been without a contract since 2023 and have said they want better wages and job security.On Wednesday, the STO held a news conference to say only paratransit and on-demand service would run if a strike happens.It recommended making arrangements starting Monday for carpooling, biking or other active commuting options, or working remotely.The agency’s 2024 annual report said it had more than 14.5 million rides last year, or an average of about 39,700 a day.Driver union upsetThe STO said it’s confident it can reach a fair deal to avoid a strike.General manager Patrick Leclerc said Wednesday in French the union is misunderstanding its offers and they would bring compensation close to what OC Transpo pays.The union said the agency is factoring in the value of benefits, while the union is focused on wages, which would be much lower than Ottawa and elsewhere in Quebec under the STO’s offers.Meanwhile, the union representing STO drivers said its nearly 600 members wouldn’t be paid during a strike. SCFP 5910 President Benoit Pichette-Sarault asked the STO to honour its contract and pay workers. He said the union is going over its legal options should the contract not be honoured.