The Saskatoon Transit labour dispute between the city and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 615 is over.
Members of ATU Local 615 voted 55.83 per cent on Tuesday to accept the city’s contract offer. The group had been without a contract since 2012.
“I am most pleased that this will be a chance to bring more certainty and predictability back to our residents,” Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark said to reporters Wednesday.
“When there’s that uncertainly, when there’s that labour disruption, it leaves everybody wondering what’s going to happen next.”
READ MORE: Tentative deal reached between city, ATU Local 615 in Saskatoon Transit dispute
Clark said he did take note that the agreement didn’t pass by a wide consensus and acknowledged the two sides have gone through some “tough times” over the past four years.
“Fifty-six per cent is enough to get this deal and to put this deal behind us, but now I think our work as a council and administration and with transit is to keep building up the morale,” Clark said.
On Tuesday night, union officials officially withdrew its work to rule campaign and ban on overtime that started on Nov. 12, which forced transit to cancel buses.
According to city officials, members will receive a 10 per cent wage increase and back pay to 2012 as part of the agreement.
“I’d say an average back pay would probably be in that eight- to 10-thousand dollar range,” city manager Murray Totland said Wednesday.
ATU Local 615 president Jim Yakubowski said he believes the accumulated pay was one reason members asked the executive to put the offer to a vote.
“All of our members received letters, personal letters indicating how much they stand to receive,” Yakubowski said.
“Knowing that there’s back pay awaiting you, that obviously has an impact on some people making their decision.”
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ATU Local 615 also agreed on the same pension agreement as eight other unions and associations in the general pension plan. Its executive had fought against the changes.
“We didn’t recommend this offer to our members, we just basically allowed them to make the decision,” Yakubowski said Wednesday.
“None the less, we respect the democracy of the local.”
Yakubowski said there were some positives in the deal, including a five cent wage increase for drivers who complete a third-party certification program and a wage increase for Access Transit drivers.
Saskatoon city council still needs to approve the agreement, which is expected to happen Thursday.
The terms of the agreement extend to the end of March, when the two sides could once again begin bargaining.
“What will be different is right now we don’t have that big pension dilemma and challenge facing us that we did back in 2012,” Totland said about the next round of bargaining.
“I think these will be … a more normal round of negotiations for all the unions.”
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