STO cancels Winterlude shuttles, offers discount as labour dispute continues

Gatineau's public transportation agency is offering bus pass holders and card holders a 25 per cent discount during a labour dispute that has had an impact on the daily commutein the capital region.

• Dozens of Gatineau bus routes cancelled as labour dispute continues
• STO not an essential service, board rules as strike looms

Bus drivers and maintenance workers began pressure tactics on Jan. 20 after collective agreement talks broke down with theSocit de transport de l'Outaouais (STO).

While there could be a strike at some point, STO employees are for nowonly undertaking on-the-job pressure tactics for now such as refusing to work overtime and special events,likeWinterlude,andsending buses to the garage for any defect, no matter how seemingly minor.

The STO, in turn, has had to cancelof dozens of routes.

To compensate riders, the STO says a25 per cent discount will be applied for January monthly pass holders, and again for those who purchase passes for February.

The fare for daily rides for STO customers using their pay cards will also drop while the labour action continues from $3.40 to $2.50, effective Feb. 1.

Gatineau Sno-buscancelled

The STOannounced on Tuesday ithas cancelled its Sno-Bus shuttle serviceto the 39thannual Winterlude festival, which begins Friday.

The shuttle bus service normally provides free rides between the Robert Guertin Park-and-Ride andJacques-Cartier and Confederation Parks.

• View map of OC Transpo Sno-Bus route (pdf)

The OC Transpo Sno-Bus, which connectsConfederationPark to stops all along the Rideau Canal to Dow's Lake, is still expected to run.

The union, which represents485 drivers and 115 maintenance workers,has said deteriorating working conditions and scheduling are the key issues in the negotiations