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WEEKEND, JANUARY 27-29, 2017
Ottawa robotics competition co-chairs Heidi Li and David Huynh show off a pair of robots which will feature in this year’s competition. ADAM KVETON/FOR METRO
High -1°C/Low -7°C Snow showers
Delays mount for Gatineau commuters LABOUR STRIFE
stead of being abandoned on rural routes. Because their contract is suspended, STO doesn’t pay drivers sent home due to a lack of buses. ATU local 591 head Félix Gendron said Monday commuters were frustrated by the delays, but improving weather Dylan C. and STO cancellation alerts Robertson For Metro | Ottawa helped passengers anticipate delays. “The passengers have been Gatineau commuters face increasing delays on the Société a lot less upset as the week’s de transport de l’Outaouais gone by,” he said. “We’re sup(STO), as the bus company’s ported by the public.” union enters a seventh The union’s main day of work-to-rule meas- Wednesday issues — sick leave and 194 ures. growing work hours Thursday* — persisted prior to Since last Friday, union 162 their contract’s Demembers have refused overtime hours, in the first step cember 2014 expiratoward declaring a Tuesday tion. Gendron claims strike. STO has resisted 91 On Monday, drivunion demands, leaders started reporting ing to a 98 per cent buses for repairs, invote in support of a cluding minor issues strike mandate. like windshield While union memwipers. With a backbers have warned of Morning log of repairs and a possible lock-out Evening mechanics refuson social media, STO E IC claims that’s not on ing overtime, that’s RV E S left the STO cutting the table. IN scheduled buses. “For the moment, OT N “Despite all of that isn’t among the that, we intend to scenarios we’re conBus maintain service as sidering. We’d much cancellation much as we can,” STO prefer discussions numbers spokeswoman Céline *As of press time through our planned Gauthier said. meetings at the negoThe agency cancels buses tiation table,” Gauthier said, on its busiest routes, so com- with talks planned Monday muters take packed buses in- and Tuesday.
Union members refuse overtime in first step to strike mandate
POWER UP, GIRLS! Ottawa students using robotics competition to shorten the tech gender gaps metroNEWS