North Bay Transit drivers can't cross Nipissing picket lines

Those wishing to arrive at Nipissing University on public transit are being forced to walk a little more than usual at the North Baycampus due to collectively bargained policy.

The North Bay Transit buses are turning around before they reach the picket lines of striking professors. The reason is in their union agreement, which states bus operators are not allowed to drive through picket lines.

The university's faculty are embarking on the third day of their strike, leaving students without classes to attend.

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• Nipissing University classes cancelled as faculty strikes

Remi Renaudis a manager with North Bay Transit. He says while students and staff at the school may wish to cross the picket lines to reach university grounds, their bus drivers are committed to unity among unions.

"I think it's fair. I think it's respectful," saysRenaud. "Our employees would probably expect the same from other unions if we were ever in a strike action."

Renaudadds there have been no complaints so far, despite the fact some students now have to walk less than a kilometre to reach the university.

"Students have been very good so far," says Renaud. "And we've tried to explain why we're not accessing the property and dropping them off in a safe area as much as possible of course so nobody gets injured."

The strike at Nipissing has left 5,000 students out of class after negotiations broke down earlier in theweek.