SASKATOON – The transit lockout has many people taking to social media to support the Bus Riders of Saskatoon, and its membership has grown rapidly.
Several weeks ago it had roughly 30 members. Now there are more than 200 members.
The organization gathered for a meeting Sunday to discuss the lockout and the future of Saskatoon’s transit system.
Group organizer Tracey Mitchell said they hope to empower riders to ignite change.
“There are a lot of people that are really impacted by this that are looking for ways to get involved,” she explained.
Mitchell said the group plans to pressure both the city and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615 to come to an agreement.
“It does seem like both sides are kind of digging in their heels, and so it is getting a little more disconcerting as the weather gets colder,” Mitchell explained.
The city issued a media release Friday inviting the union back to the bargaining table, but the union said negotiations can’t happen until the city changes its offer.
The province’s Labour Relations Board turned down an order to stop the lockout late Friday afternoon, after the union filed an unfair labour practice with the board, saying the lockout is illegal as there is an outstanding complaint against the city.
The lockout will continue for at least another week until the board revisits the matter.
Comments