Job action by members of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 615 is affecting some Saskatoon Transit routes on Monday.
City officials said the refusal of drivers to work overtime will affect the following routes and has forced one route cancellation later Monday afternoon:
- Route 4 – the 2:20 p.m. bus leaving the University of Saskatchewan may experience heavy ridership
- Route 6 – there may be heavy ridership at 3:21 p.m.
- Route 22 – the 3:29 p.m. bus leaving the downtown terminal heading to Confederation Mall then to Montgomery at 3:59 p.m. has been cancelled.
Officials said all other buses on Route 22 are expected to maintain regular service from the downtown terminal.
READ MORE: Saskatoon Transit workers taking job action against city
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.
Members of ATU Local 615 began a work to rule campaign on Saturday at 12:01 a.m., along with refusing to work overtime.
Union officials said it was in response to the lack of movement by the city over pensions in current contract talks.
Transit wants the right to be able to bargain changes in the future and not absorb any additional liability.
The union wants to wait for a decision from a third-party arbitration panel, which will decide whether the city is legally allowed to make the changes to the plan under the terms of the collective agreement.
READ MORE: Saskatoon Transit union votes not to vote on new contract offer
ATU 615 officials said if the panel rules in the city’s favour, then they will sign the agreement which includes a 10 per cent wage increase over four years.
Unionized Saskatoon Transit workers have been without a contract since December 2012.