Transit drivers and support staff in Timmins are preparing for a strike that could begin Saturday unless talks with the City of Timmins produce what they call “fair wages.” The union returns to the bargaining table Friday morning, and members say the rising cost of living has pushed them to the brink.

“We’re paying rent, groceries, babysitting – everything has gone up – and our wages haven’t kept pace,” said Debbie Fleury, a bus driver and member of CUPE Local 1544’s negotiating team. Fleury joined co-workers Tuesday evening outside City Hall for an “advert” – a short, public picket timed during a council meeting to raise awareness of the dispute. Passing cars honked in support, she said, and many regular riders have expressed solidarity with drivers.

The group on the line includes conventional and paratransit drivers, mechanics, dispatchers and other service staff. Those employees have been working without a renewed contract since March; their last deal was negotiated five years ago amid the pandemic. Fleury said benefits are also on the table, but she declined to disclose the specific wage increase the union is seeking.

For many people in Timmins, the stakes are practical and personal. Longtime paratransit user Teryl Lee Payette stood on the picket line to show support and explain how a service shutdown would affect her life. Payette relies on paratransit for rides to mental-health supports and medical appointments; a strike, she said, would cut off critical access to programs and social connection.

The City of Timmins issued a statement saying negotiations are ongoing and warning that a strike would halt all bus services, including the Northern College Express. “The City of Timmins remains committed to achieving a collective agreement that meets the needs of riders, residents, and our employees,” the statement read, adding that officials will continue working to avoid a work stoppage. The city would not share details of its current offer.

Northern College said it is preparing contingency plans should transit be disrupted. “We are currently meeting to discuss options to try and accommodate our students to the best of our abilities,” spokesperson Jaret Dicks said.

For riders and residents: if a strike is declared, expect service interruptions across local routes and paratransit. The city will post updates to its social channels and its transit page; check Timmins Transit for the latest information: https://www.timmins.ca/our_services/timmins_transit

This moment is about more than one contract. Transit workers say they want reassurance that their jobs will cover the basics of daily life in an increasingly costly world, while the city stresses its duty to keep buses running. Both sides return to the table Friday – and many in the community will be watching.