STO strike in Gatineau: 5 things you need to know

Gatineau bus drivers and maintenance workers are going on rotating strikesafter meetings Wednesday with the Socit de transport de l'Outaouais(STO) failed to resolve their differences.

• Gatineau transit workers to begin rotating strikes Thursday

Here's what you need to know:

1. One-day strikes begin Thursday

The rotating strikes will occur one day per week, beginning Thursday, March 16.

The union has said it will carry out job actions on other days of the week, but no details were provided Wednesday.

Union presidentFlix Gendronsaid subsequent strike days will be held on a different day each week and the public will know which one it is at least 24 hours in advance.

2. OC Transpo will serve Gatineau

OCTransposaid it will continue to serveGatineauduring the strike.

Routes 8, 95, 96, 105, 234, and 293 will run as usual, however the transit agency is warning thatincreased traffic may cause many delays.

3. Public service managers asked to consider teleworking

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat is telling federal government workers who are affected by the strike to find alternative ways to get to work on Thursday, such as carpooling.

"Where the situation and operational requirements permit, we also asked managers to be flexible and consider the possibility of flexible work arrangements such as telecommuting or flexible hours for employees whose path for a strike would be greatly affected," Alain Belle-Isle, a TBSspokesman, said.

4. Parking available in Hull

The City of Gatineau is making 500 parking spaces available for STO users at the Robert-Guertin Centre at 125 rue Carillon in the Hull sector, near the intersection of rue Saint-Rdempteur and boulevard des Allumettires.

5. Updates on strike

The STO is urging riders to check their website, sto.ca, for updates on the strike situation over the coming days.