Strike Averted - Local 1775 Barrie Transit Workers Win Strong Contract After Fight Back Campaign
Barrie Transit workers did not blink. After months of stalled talks and a management team that kept ignoring the Local’s key concerns, our Local 1775-Barrie, ON, members voted 96.5% in favor of a strike authorization and then showed up to a spirited practice picket to make their position crystal clear. Management got the message.
A Contract Worth Fighting For
The result was an overwhelmingly ratified contract that delivers meaningful gains across the board. The new agreement includes significant wage increases, improved benefits, better work-life balance, stronger safety protections, and improved bus route scheduling. It’s the kind of contract that doesn’t happen without members willing to fight for it.
Solidarity Did the Work
“Our members’ unwavering unity is what delivered this deal, and it’s a deal worth fighting for,” said International President John Costa. “Their dedication to each other, and to the riders who depend on Barrie Transit every day, is what this movement is made of. From the strike authorization vote to the practice picket, you showed what solidarity looks like. That’s how we win.”
Local 1775 President/Business Agent Cory Trew credited the outcome to the collective resolve of the membership. “Our members worked hard for this contract, and we believe it strikes the right balance between meeting their needs and maintaining the high standard of service that the residents of Barrie deserve,” Trew said.
Stand Together
The contract campaign reminds us of what transit workers can accomplish when we stand together. Barrie riders count on Local 1775 members every day. Now those members have a contract that reflects what their work is worth.