A deal has been reached between the Commission and ATU- Local 741 effectively ending the LTC strike. I know this news brings great relief members of our Western community.

I would like to thank the student body for being so understanding and patient throughout the strike. We should all be quite proud of ourselves for pulling together and helping our fellow Mustangs throughout the strike. A special thank you is extended to the University for their quick action and completely volunteer-run services which were utilized by approximately 2,000 students daily. Thank you to all volunteers and our student community!!

Although a deal has been reached it is important to note that service will not be fully running right away. Every effort is being made to restore transit service as quickly as possible.

According to LTC:
In order for the service to be effective, it has to be sustainable and consistent, and provide for adequate connectivity to get passengers where they need to go.  Given that the required number of buses for regular weekday service will not be available immediately, return to regular service will be gradual, beginning as follows:

• Bus service on Saturday, December 19, 2009 and Sunday, December 20, 2009 will be as per the regular Saturday and Sunday schedules.
• The service on both Saturday, December 19, 2009 and Sunday, December 20, 2009 will be free, with the Commission’s thanks and appreciation for your continued patience and understanding
• A modified weekday service will begin on Monday, December 21, 2009 ramping up to full regular scheduled weekday service by Monday, January 4, 2010.

The delay provides the necessary time to complete required servicing and inspection of a sufficient number of buses to start-up and maintain a limited (modified) service. The nature of the limited (modified) service will be subject to future public service announcements and updates to the LTC website (www.londontransit.ca) and the USC Mustangs Moving Mustangs Website.

With this information, it is important to note that all services offered by the University Students' Council and The University of Western Ontario will continue to run over the examination period.

Our contract with LTC states that the University Students' Council will receive student refund money 30 days after service resumes.

Students will be made aware how they will be refunded early in the New Year.

On behalf of the University Students' Council, we wish you good luck on your exams and the warmest holiday wishes this season.

See you in January,

Emily

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