SASKATOON – As frustrations grow over contract negotiations, Saskatoon Transit drivers have decided to leave their uniforms at home starting Wednesday. The union’s president says in Monday’s member meetings, emotions were running high and there were varied opinions on what the next move should be.
He adds a strike was on the table, but ultimately, members only want to raise awareness about their concerns over wages and pensions.
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By not wearing their uniforms to work, drivers hope the public will take notice and urge the city to resolve the concerns.
“I’m hoping that through customers that use the system and the general public, that they would join us in exerting some influence on city council to take responsibility for this and take some initiative to direct administration to come back and resolve our outstanding issues,” ATU 615 president Jim Yakubowski said.
“We’ve stated all along that we don’t want to impact the public. We believe that this issue is resolvable and should be resolved in the least amount of impact to the citizens. They’ve already been through a month long ordeal without a bus service.”
Drivers haven’t had a contract since 2012.
At this point, Yakubowski says the union is trying to avoid further escalation.
The city locked out drivers in 2014. Part of that lockout was later ruled illegal.
“The amount of money that we’re looking to settle based on our last proposal was half of the cost of the lockout. So, we want our pension plan, the ability to bargain our pension plan in the future and not take on the risk and liability associated with it.”