Public transit continues to be a hot topic in the greater Moncton area as a strike looms.
Talks between the city and the Amalgamated Transit Union are scheduled for Thursday, but the two sides have to overcome some major hurdles and some people fear the buses could be pulled sooner rather than later.
Karen Haley uses Codiac Transpo to get back and forth to work and she considers most of her regular drivers to be her friends.
Haley delivered a petition with over 1,000 signatures to Moncton City Council Monday night, in hopes of preventing a strike.
"For seniors and people who have no voice, that was my reason for starting the petition," says Haley.
President of the Amalgamated Transit Union, George Turple, says it is not all about money.
"When the membership voted on this, they didn't vote solely on those wages," says Turple. "Those contract changes were huge issues with them and that is part of the reason they voted in this way."
Public support for drivers, especially among some transit users, is stop and go.
"My thoughts are that it isn't a good idea because of all of the people who have to go to work that are losing out and then they are going to have to afford cabs," says transit user Katie Vansnick.
"Well, I do know people who take buses to work everyday and who work in Rverview, which is so far away," says transit user Danica Spencer.
For Haley, who takes the bus to work every day, there is no doubt.
"I am doing it to help seniors, help students," says Haley. "I have heard people are going to lose their jobs if there is no bus service."
Transit users won't have to wait too long to learn the fate of their service, with the next meeting being held on Thursday.
With files from CTV Atlantic's David Bell
