REGINA – The City of Regina has issued a lockout notice to the city’s transit union as the two sides remain at loggerheads over a new deal.
Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU #588) officials say they have received notice from the City of Regina that states “the city will lockout the employees represented by your union commencing no earlier than 11:59 November 11, 2013.
“Our members are disappointed and upset that Transit Management and the City would take such a mean spirited action against them,” stated Don Baker President and Chair of the Union Bargaining Team.
Brian LeGard, Labour Relations Manager with the City of Regina, says the intent is to get a deal done but now the city is able to lock out the transit union if it chooses.
“If they decide to start to escalate things, we need to protect the city’s assets and public safety,” LeGard said. “It’s unfortunate the impact right now with the activity is an inconvenience to the customer, which we try to pride ourselves on supplying a great customer service.”
On October 27th the transit union served notice of strike action and has been implementing escalating job action for the last few weeks, including transit drivers not wearing uniforms and driving below the posted speed limit.
The city is not sure what a lockout would look like if it ends up happening.
“It could be that the service is suspended,” LeGard said. “That’s the extreme side of it.”
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