The transit strike may be over in Halifax, but a new one is brewing in Moncton.
The 90 drivers, mechanics and service workers with Codiac Transpo have been without a contract since June 2010 and as of April 1, they will be in a legal strike position.
"I take the bus once in awhile, but I can sympathize with people that take it everyday, that commute to and from work," says occasional transit user Mike White. "I can see that being trouble if they happen to go on strike."
More people than ever are riding the buses in Moncton, and for many, it's their only form of transportation.
"I wouldn't be able to work sometimes, and get to meetings and stuff," says bus passenger Evan Phinney.
City spokesman Paul Thompson says ridership has been increasing each year and it needs to keep operating costs down.
He also says the deal struck between the Amalgamated Transit Union and Metro Transit in Halifax could be used to form the framework of a contract with Codiac Transpo.
"People have to look at it and we will obviously be looking at it too," says Thompson. "It does set some sort of precedent."
Officials with the transit union didn't return emails or phone calls from CTV News today. Meanwhile the city says wages and operating costs remain on the top of its agenda.
"That's why we're looking at operational efficiencies, looking at putting more efficiencies into the system around work assignments and schedules," says Thompson.
Roughly 2.5 million people took the bus in 2011, up 200,000 from the previous year. Thompson says the next contract with the union must address the expanding service.
"We want to make sure we get the efficiencies we need to grow the system and make sure it's a viable option for people to get around," he says.
However, if a new contract isn't negotiated before April 1, roughly 7,000 daily riders in the Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe areas will have to find another way to get around.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis
