News Releases

 

For Release: October 18, 2014

The City is surprised and disappointed with the Board’s decision and the central issue still remains – ATU and the City needs a contract.

The Board is requiring the City to re-issue a lockout notice. Therefore, in compliance with the Order, the City served notice of lockout to the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) on Friday, October 17, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. This means ATU will be locked out on Sunday, October 19, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. Transit customers should be prepared to continue to make alternate transportation arrangements.

“The City will be carefully reviewing the Board’s reasons for their decision when we receive them”, says City Solicitor, Particia Warwick.

Jeff Jorgenson, General Manager of Transportation & Utilities, says achieving a contract that is fair for everyone is not without challenges and will take much work.

“The City’s objectives remain the same. We want a contract with ATU before winter, and we want pension plan changes that ensure the long-term sustainability of the plan,” says Jorgenson.

ATU and the City remain far apart in contract discussions. The City offered a 10% wage increase over four years as well as other specific increases. ”ATU’s demands far exceed what we are prepared to ask Saskatoon citizens and Transit customers to pay,” says Jorgenson. “The ATU Executive has demanded raises up to as much as 35% for some employees, averaging 19% overall.”

Eight of the nine unions/associations in the General Pension Plan have accepted a 10% deal over four years as well as increased contributions and amendments to the General Pension Plan.  This is the same offer presented to the ATU.

On September 20, 2014 the Transit union proposed a 22.25 % increase over five years; on Friday October 10, 2014 they modified their offer to be an average of 19% over four years, which is a higher per-year increase than their 5-year proposal. ATU maintains a 97% strike mandate.

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For Release: October 18, 2014

At a special meeting of Executive Committee this afternoon, City Council voted to withdraw the notice for the Transit lockout. Service will resume Monday morning.

“The Labour Relations Board ruling has created a large degree of uncertainty,” says Mayor Donald Atchison.

“It is because of our concern for our employees, transit riders and the citizens of Saskatoon that we have decided to end the lockout. We do not want to put them in the middle of a long drawn-out legal dispute,” says Mayor Atchison. “We also promised riders and citizens we would not leave people out in the cold with no end in sight to the labour dispute.”

As a result, full Transit services will begin running again on Monday, October 20, 2014.

It makes sense to offer free Transit for the rest of October and ensure it is convenient for customers to get moving again as quickly as possible. The community has been through enough and we want to re-establish our transit service.

Transit customers may ride the bus for free until Friday, October 31 to provide appropriate time to repurchase a monthly pass or activate an extension for those who did not receive a refund for their September 2014 transit pass.

On Sunday, October 19, there will be a number of ways available for residents to find information on bus routes:

• Transit Click & Go - Visit www.saskatoon.ca and search for route options using Transit Click & Go. 
• Customer Service Representative – Call 306-975-3100 to speak with a Customer Service Representative or visit our Saskatoon Transit Customer Centre, located at the Downtown Terminal on 23^rd Street. Visit www.saskatoon.ca for hours of operation.

Phone & Go will be operating by Tuesday, October 21, 2014. Phone & Go, a trip planning service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. By following phone prompts, you will be able to plan your Transit trip using the most up-to-date information, or find the next buses servicing a stop.

TRANSIT CUSTOMERS

·     Saskatoon Transit will offer free transit service for the rest of October to provide enough time to repurchase a monthly pass or activate your one month pass extension for those who had a valid September 2014 transit pass and did not receive a refund.

·     For those customers with longer term transit passes, you will either receive a one month extension or a refund depending on the type of pass you hold. Please contact a Customer Service Representative for more information.

·     UPass and EcoPass holders should contact the Administrators of their programs to learn about extensions or reimbursements.

·     The City will adjust its invoice for University students so there are no fees for September or October

We welcome back Transit riders and look forward to getting Saskatoon on the move again.

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NEW
SASKATCHEWAN CRES WB CLOSED FROM MCPHERSON AVE TO IDYLWYLD CRES
(Royary Park Construction)
Start: October 20, 10:30 a.m. End: November 3, 3:00 p.m.
ONGOING
AIRPORT DR NB LANES CLOSED FROM GATEWAY BLVD TO THE AIRPORT
(Roadway improvements)
Two-way traffic accommodated in SB lanes. 45th St W closed from Airport Dr to Koyl Ave
Start: August 20, 1:00 p.m. End: October 29, 6:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

NEW SATURDAY
22ND ST EB & WB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED BETWEEN AVENUE I AND AVENUE K
(Sanitary sewer lining)
Ave J median (inside) lanes closed between 21st and 22nd Street
Start: October 18, 7:00 a.m. End: October 18, 6:00 p.m.

NEW SUNDAY

CIRCLE DR SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED UNDER 108TH ST OVERPASS
(Culvert cleaning)
Start: October 19, 7:00 a.m. End: October 19, 1:00 p.m.
ATTRIDGE DR EB & WB TURN LANES TO TO CIRCLE DR E CLOSED
(Culvert cleaning)
Attridge Dr ramp to Circle Dr SB closed
Start: October 19, 7:00 a.m. End: October 19, 1:00 p.m.
2ND AVE N NB & SB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM 24TH ST E TO 25TH ST E
(Sanitary Lining)
25th St EB curb lane closed approaching 2nd Ave
Start: October 19, 6:30 a.m. End: October 19, 5:30 p.m.
ONGOING
PRESTON AVE NB & CORNISH RD/HUNTER RD INTERSECTION RESTRICTIONS
(Intersection reconstruction)
Access to Stonebridge via Preston Ave will be maintained:
Preston Ave SB to Cornish Rd WB will be maintained. NB traffic will be detoured via the new Willis Cres which now joins Preston Ave.
Hunter Rd WB to Preston Ave NB will remain open for morning rush hour, the restriction will be in place from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day.
Start: October 14, 9:00 a.m. End: October 18, 8:00 p.m.

AIRPORT DR NB LANES CLOSED FROM GATEWAY BLVD TO THE AIRPORT
(Roadway improvements)
Two-way traffic accommodated in SB lanes. 45th St W closed from Airport Dr to Koyl Ave
Start: August 20, 1:00 p.m. End: October 29, 6:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

The Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (LRB) found the City was not in a legal position to lock out workers of the Amalgamated Transit Union, 615 (ATU) September 20.  As a result the panel has ordered the City to lift the lockout and pay the Transit Union damages.

“We are surprised and disappointed at the Labour Board’s ruling,” says City Solicitor Patricia Warwick.  “This decision flies in the face of 70 years of law in Saskatchewan.  Unfortunately today’s ruling is also another distraction.  It gets us no closer to solving any of the contract issues and in fact, the ruling has serious long-term implications.”

The City believes the lockout was legal because the workplace complaint was not pending because the complaint had not yet been heard at a formally constituted meeting of the LRB and therefore, not “pending before the board.”

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.