Residents in Barrie, Ontario, can expect regular bus schedules starting Monday, March 23, 2026, after the union representing workers approved a new agreement. The ATU Local 1775 voted on Sunday to accept the deal with MVT Canadian Bus Inc., the company that runs the city’s buses. This decision avoids what would have been the first bus strike in the city’s history.
The agreement was reached following 14 hours of negotiations that ended late Friday night, March 20, 2026. Before the deal was made, about 200 workers, including drivers and mechanics, had voted 96.5 per cent in favour of going on strike. These employees had been without a contract since June 30, 2025, and were concerned about scheduling issues and respect from management.
The City of Barrie confirmed that there will be no disruptions to regular or specialized bus services. While the city owns the bus fleet and the buildings, it pays a private company to handle the daily driving and maintenance. This private company is currently halfway through a 20-year contract to operate the local bus system.
Bus drivers had previously held a practice picket at the Allandale Transit Terminal to show they were prepared to walk off the job if a deal was not reached. City officials had backup plans ready in case of a strike, but they are no longer needed. Commuters can now rely on their regular bus routes without any changes to the schedule.
