News Releases

To try and bring the lockout to an end, the City has taken the bold step of offering a plan to the Transit union.  We remain far apart in our contract talks with the Transit union; ATU’s last proposal is for a 19% wage increase over four years.

“Even with an experienced mediator like Vince Ready taking part, the parties are still nowhere near a proposal that the City would consider fair to our other unions, citizens and taxpayers,” says Jeff Jorgenson, General Manager of Transportation & Utilities.

So, in an effort to reduce the impact of the current labour dispute, the City offered the transit union three requirements to lift the lockout:

1. The City and the Amalgamated Transit Union, 615 both agree to no further lock out or strike action until there is a contract.
2. The Transit union must agree with the pension changes that they already agreed to in December 2013 and recently enacted by City Council.
3. It must withdraw the Labour Relations Board application which challenges the legality of the lockout.

“Instead, the ATU leadership did not respond to the City’s olive branch; we expected a response,” Jorgenson says. “It was a serious offer to resolve the current situation and there was silence.”

“People want their bus service back: this is a way to do that,” he says.  “It’s time to move forward,  time to get past arguing technicalities, time to get Transit workers back on the job and get Saskatoon moving again.”

Jorgenson says after all its options to reach a contract had run out, the City chose to lock out to put pressure on Transit while the weather was still reasonable.

 “Union leadership had a green light to strike; we were concerned the union would walk off the job in the dead of winter,” Jorgenson says.  “Now with the union leadership rejecting this solution, it means more of the same for transit riders who want bus service and transit staff who want to go back to work.”

Jorgenson says despite another offer and setback, his team will continue to work with union leadership to get our Transit workers back in the shop and on the road with a wage and pension package that is fair for all.  “We saw this as a great opportunity to clean the slate and start a new beginning for Saskatoon Transit,” he says.  “We remain committed to finding a deal that gets everyone on board.”

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 changes to the General Pension Plan.  This is the same offer presented to the ATU, 615.

On September 20, 2014 the Transit union proposed a 22.25 % increase over five years.

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.

NEW
SPADINA CRES E SB CLOSED FROM RAVINE DR TO PINEHOUSE DR
(Road resurfacing)
Once SB lanes are paved, the closure will be flipped to accommodate NB traffic in the SB curb (outside) lane
Start: October 14, 9:00 a.m. End: October 16, 6:00 p.m.
IDYLWYLD DR N NB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 29TH ST W TO 30TH ST W
(Water & Sewer connection)
Start: October 14, 9:00 a.m. End: October 14, 6:00 p.m.
4TH AVE S NB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 21ST ST E TO 22ND ST E
(Building sign removal)
Start: October 14, 9:00 a.m. End: October 14, 3:00 p.m.

CIRCLE DR NB & SB LANES WEST OF ATTRIDGE DR SPEED RESTRICTED TO 60KM/H
(Fence repairs)
Start: October 14, 10:30 a.m. End: October 16, 4:00 p.m.
ONGOING
33RD ST EB LANES CLOSED FROM AVE Y TO AVE W
(Water main lining)
Two-way traffic accommodated in the WB lanes
Start: August 22, 9:00 a.m. End: October 17, 6:00 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.

ONGOING
33RD ST EB LANES CLOSED FROM AVE Y TO AVE W
(Water main lining)
Two-way traffic accommodated in the WB lanes
Start: August 22, 9:00 a.m. End: October 17, 6:00 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.

To try and bring the lockout to an end, the City has taken the bold step of offering a plan to the Transit union.  We remain far apart in our contract talks with the Transit union; ATU’s last proposal is for a 19% wage increase over four years. 

“Even with an experienced mediator like Vince Ready taking part, the parties are still nowhere near a proposal that the City would consider fair to our other unions, citizens and taxpayers,” says Jeff Jorgenson, General Manager of Transportation & Utilities.

So, in an effort to reduce the impact of the current labour dispute, the City offered the transit union three requirements to lift the lockout:

1. The City and the Amalgamated Transit Union, 615 both agree to no further lock out or strike action until there is a contract.
   
2. The Transit union must agree with the pension changes that they already agreed to in December 2013 and recently enacted by City Council.
   
3. It must withdraw the Labour Relations Board application which challenges the legality of the lockout. 

So far there’s no word on whether ATU will accept the City’s proposal.

Saskatoon’s unprecedented 2014 summer road construction season is coming to a close with over $50 million spent maintaining and repairing more roads than ever before. That’s 47% more than what was spent last year.

“We have paved approximately 200 lane kilometres of road this construction season, 120 kilometres more than last year, and more than the 178 kilometres we predicted we would get to this year,” says Jeff Jorgenson, General Manager of Transportation and Utilities. “We’ve made a promise to citizens that they would begin to see an improvement in the roads and we’ve been delivering on that promise.”  

Approximately $23.8 million was invested in road and sidewalk rehabilitation this year, more than double the previous year. A road preservation treatment or rehabilitation was completed at 100 locations across Saskatoon thanks to hundreds of City crews and contract workers, some of which worked around the clock or on a night only schedule. 

“With more construction zones this year, the City planned more efficient ways of completing the work to minimize the amount of time high-traffic roads were closed for construction,” says Jorgenson. “Evening only and 24-hour work reduced the impact to drivers, residents and businesses. It also allowed the City to combine large projects into contracts, which was beneficial for industry partners.”  

The City employed other new tools to improve communication with citizens. The Report-a-Pothole map allowed the public to report potholes online and monitor repairs. The addition of the new Road Restrictions and Construction Projects online map also allowed drivers to plan their route around road work and avoid delays.

Despite the significant increase in work zones this year the City is pleased there were no reports of injuries to workers. 

In addition to the road resurfacing, an estimated 3,300 tonnes of asphalt was used to repair the equivalent of 188,000 potholes, based on an average 12x4 inch hole. About 1600 utility cuts have been permanently repaired.

Six kilometres of sidewalks were rehabilitated, up from a total of 1.7 kilometres in 2013. 870 kilometres of lane lines were painted and more than 27 kilometres of durable markings applied, 16 kilometres more than ever before.  

This year, a curb to curb street sweep was completed in 61 residential neighbourhoods, 96 school zones and 10 industrial or suburban centres in eight weeks. More than 400 kilometres of gravel back lanes were graded or rehabilitated and 2.45 kilometres of paved back lanes were repaired.

“This is only the start of better roads in Saskatoon; we plan to continue to dramatically improve the condition, safety and longevity of our City’s road network,” says Jorgenson. “Our construction season was busier than ever this year, so we want to thank drivers, residents and businesses for their cooperation and patience.” Crews will continue to rehabilitate the roads, sidewalks and back lanes as long as the weather permits. 

“As we move into the winter phase of the Building Better Roads plan, we will continue to focus on the condition and safety of our roads as we plow, grade and sand City streets,” says Jorgenson.

For more information on Fall and Winter road programs go to Saskatoon.ca and click on Building Better Roads. 

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.