The city is not changing its stance in the contract dispute with the union representing Saskatoon Transit workers.
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 615 workers have been operating without a contract for almost four years.
The biggest sticking point is pension benefits.
READ MORE: Saskatoon Transit workers taking job action against city
But after discussing the issue behind closed doors, city councillors say their latest offer is fair and reasonable.
“I’m not sure why we haven’t got the resolution that we know that we can because I think that the offer that’s on the table is very reasonable and is achievable,” Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark said.
“(It) will allow for transit drivers, maintenance operators, all of them, to have a good pension and have a chance to come back to the bargaining table and bargain their next agreement, which is up right away.”
The union started job action Saturday morning with a work to rule campaign and refusing overtime.
READ MORE: Saskatoon Transit union votes not to vote on new contract offer
Union officials want to wait for an arbitration ruling on their pension plan and say job action will continue until the dispute is resolved.
“Our belief is that the city did not have the legal right to make changes to our pension plan without collectively bargaining them, and that’s the answer that both parties are awaiting,” Jim Yakubowski, ATU Local 615 president, said.
“What we’re simply saying today is that we can agree with whatever the outcome of the ruling is.”
City officials are using its service alerts to update riders on any route changes.
Riders can see service alerts on both the Saskatoon Transit and the city’s websites, using the transit app and by following Saskatoon Transit on Twitter.
Access Transit is not affected as it is an essential service.
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