ATU DEMANDS 22.25% WAGE INCREASE
The union representing Saskatoon Transit and the City of Saskatoon remain at an impasse. Transit operations will be suspended with the lockout of approximately 330 Amalgamated Transit Union, 615 (ATU) members on Saturday, September 20.
“They are now asking for much more than what they were willing to settle for in December 2013. They now want a 22.25% wage increase over 5 years. This is more than double what the other 8 unions accepted,” says Marno McInnes, Director of Human Resources.
“This is a dramatic shift in ATU’s position from earlier this year and is very disappointing. So talks have concluded and we are preparing for a lockout at 10:00 p.m.,” says McInnes.
The City offered the same four year wage and pension package to ATU as it has offered to all the other unions and associations that participate in the City’s General Pension Plan. This included a wage increase totalling 10% over four years (2013-2016). Agreements have been reached with eight of the unions/associations.
We still need to address the pension deficit. The goal is to address the deficit by increasing contributions by both employees and the City and to make changes to the Plan design to address the pension problem.
The changes are an urgent business matter for the City. The Superintendent of Pensions and the General Pension Plan’s Board of Trustees are waiting to implement the changes made to the Plan by the City. A letter dated September 15, 2014 from the Superintendent of Pensions to the City Manager says “…the employer make special payments equal to $90,100 per month starting at January 1, 2014.”
The letter further states, “As the funding requirement for special payments in the Report has not been implemented the Plan is not in compliance with the Act. I am therefore requesting that the City remit all outstanding special payments, retroactive to January 1, 2014...we also note that an amendment is required to the Plan, to implement new contribution rates and benefit provisions which are effective January 1, 2014.”
City Council will meet Monday, September 22, 2014 to discuss whether to proceed with passing the bylaw to implement the necessary changes for all members of the General Pension Plan.
“We hope ATU can find a way back to the negotiating table so that our transit operations can return to normal,” McInnes says. “Every month without a contract moves us closer to freezing temperatures where transit customers could be left out in the cold.” The City will continue to make negotiators fully available to ATU.
As an essential service, only Access Transit will continue to operate normally. All other transit service, including charter buses, is suspended until further notice.
We apologize to Saskatoon Transit customers who count on this service to meet their transportation needs. For the latest information on the transit situation, customers can call 306-975-3100 or visit saskatoon.ca.