Yellowknife (Sep 18/06) - If you waited around for your bus this morning to no avail that's because city transit drivers have walked off the job.

Passengers were told last week by non-union drivers working for Cardinal Coach Lines they could be going on strike today in a dispute over pay.

St. Patrick high school student Richard Patrick, 16, uses the city bus to get to and from school almost every day. If city bus drivers go on strike today, he'll have to figure out another way to get to school, he said. School buses aren't expected to be affected if there's a labour dispute. - Jessica Gray/NNSL photo

Lucy Pelletier uses the bus every day and was told by a driver Friday she might have to find another way to work this morning.

"For me it's going to cost $22 to $24 a day to take a taxi," said Pelletier.

The bus driver told her there was also a possibility the striking drivers could be fired.

Driver Frederick Kaaya, hired last Tuesday, said he didn't attend a meeting discussing a possible walkout, but has spoken to drivers who went.

"I think it's true but I'm not so sure," he said.

Kaaya said it's been tough to begin work with the threat of a strike hanging over his head, but said, "What can I do?"

Kaaya said he's heard drivers in Alberta who work for Cardinal Coach Lines make around $20 an hour, almost $4 more than he makes.

"I make $16.05," said Kaaya, something that doesn't make sense because of the higher cost of living in the North.

Darryl Brissette, another bus driver, said he hasn't heard about a strike at all.

"I have no idea," he said when asked about a possible strike.

Another driver, who did not wish to be named because he was only filling in for another employee, said there was a meeting planned sometime last Friday to discuss a possible walkout.

"I've heard rumours (of a strike) too," said Melissa Scott, Cardinal Coach Line manager.

She said drivers have complained, but would not say what the complaints were about.

"That's between us and them," said Scott.

The city bus drivers are not part of a union. Representatives from the Union for Northern Workers and the Public Service Alliance of Canada said they had not heard anything about the drivers walking out or wanting to form a union.

Acting mayor Wendy Bisaro said she hadn't heard anything official about a possible walk-out, only what's been said in the media.

St. Patrick high school student Richard Patrick, 16, said he wasn't aware of a possible work stoppage.

He and dozens of other high school students use the city bus system to get to and from school almost every day.

"It could be a bit of a problem, it's like an hour walk (home)," said Patrick.

Shannon Betsina rides the bus back and forth to Yellowknife from her home in Ndilo.

"I ride it up and down into Old Town and home," she said.

The dispute shouldn't affect school buses, said Metro Huculak, superintendent for Yk Education District No. 1.

"I believe our corporate person is working with Yellowknife Catholic Schools and something is being worked out to support (the school bus drivers)," said Huculak.

He said this could mean a pay raise for the school bus drivers.