The City has refused to intervene in London Transit negotiations, meaning a bus strike is almost certain.

Bus drivers will go on a strike starting Monday, Nov. 16 if they do not reach an agreement with the London Transit Commission. According to recent public statements on the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 741 website, talks have broken off and no discussions have been scheduled before the strike deadline.

“Our goal from the outset was to maintain service to the public while negotiating with [LTC], but management […] and the mayor have all declared that they don’t care to negotiate,” a public announcement from the union stated.

Anne Marie DeCicco-Best, mayor of London, mentioned the City’s bylaws prohibit the council from getting involved in the negotiations.

“The City can’t intervene, and I think that’s what people are misunderstanding. This is not a question of whether we want to or not, we absolutely have no legal ability to be involved with this,” DeCicco-Best said.

“The employer is the LTC and it is with the employer the union has its discussions every day. That’s who they work for and that’s who they negotiate with, not the City of London.”

According to Emily Rowe, president of the University Students’ Council, the USC and Western’s administration are working together to promote commuting alternatives to students, staff and faculty members.

“For the past three weeks, we have been looking at all of our options […] We have done hours and hours of research, considering every single option we possibly could,” Rowe said.

For those students who live close to campus, Rowe suggested walking to class. Otherwise, she encouraged people who rely on the bus to share a ride with a fellow student or a faculty or staff member.

While the USC continues to do their best to provide students with alternative options, Rowe said their options are limited.

“It is hard to accommodate such a capacity [of students] that the LTC has served,” she added.

A press release from the USC stated the University is currently developing a web portal to assist students and employees in connecting with rides.

“We are confident that faculty will show empathy for students that face onerous challengens […] We also request that students only ask for academic accommodation if they are facing undue hardship,” Rowe said in the media release.

The statement also noted Western’s campus will remain open and classes will continue during the strike.

“I think both sides need to get back to the table. Only way to reach a settlement is to do that,” DeCicco-Best said. “Trying to use the council or the Mayor’s office as a political card is distracting from the real issue and that is that they need to accept the reasonable offer which is on the table and not go on a strike.”