UOIT prepares for potential GO bus strike

Labour dispute may disrupt students' commute

OSHAWA, Ont. - Durham College and University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) students who commute to campus via the GO Transit bus service may need to make alternative arrangements for their first day of classes on Monday. Bus service could be affected as early as 12:01 a.m. on Monday, January 7.

In the event of a strike, GO bus service will be disrupted and GO trains will remain active but may be delayed if picket lines are established.

"We are hoping the labour dispute will be prevented," said Fraser McArthur, president of Your Student Association. "The administration of both Durham College and UOIT are working with us to provide students with as much information as possible to assist them in arriving to school with minimal disruption and hassle. We are investigating multiple avenues to help students and will make every effort to communicate their options."

Students who use Scarborough Town Centre and Highway 407 GO bus services will be urged to make alternate arrangements for the new semester start-up in case of service disruption. Alternative options include taking GO trains to Pickering and Oshawa or carpooling with fellow classmates. In addition, Your Student Association is establishing carpool sign-up boards for students. If a strike occurs on Monday, the sign-up boards will be available on campus and will remain active for the duration of the dispute.

Updates will be provided to students as new information becomes available.

About UOIT
As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT's 5,000 students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario's first laptop-based university, the university offers a diverse array of challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its faculties of Business and Information Technology; Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies; Education; Engineering and Applied Science; Health Sciences; and Science, and its School of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science. UOIT's commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including five Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of part-time and continuing education courses, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of close to 95 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,100 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

Media contact
Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.8668 ext. 2513
melissa.levy@dc-uoit.ca