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.

-30-

 

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 City of Saskatoon’s (City) three municipal golf courses (Holiday Park, Silverwood, and Wildwood) are in the process of closing for the season to ensure that maintenance requirements can be completed before winter and the courses are in good condition for 2015.  The City would like to thank all patrons for their support during 2014.
The final days of operation at each course are as follows:
Holiday Park Golf Course
• Executive Nine will close Monday, October 20, 2014
• Regular course back nine will close Thursday, October 23, 2014
• Regular course front nine will close Monday, October 27, 2014
Silverwood Golf Course
• River Nine (formerly known as the back nine) will close Tuesday, October 14, 2014
• Lake Nine (formerly known as the front nine) will close Monday, October 20, 2014

Wildwood Golf Course
• Course will close on Wednesday, October 29, 2014
The dates above are tentative and dependent on weather conditions and course maintenance requirements.  Golfers are advised to call the golf course to check playing conditions.
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.

-30-

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.

 

On October 29, 2014, a by-election will be held for a Separate School Board Trustee to fill a vacancy on the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Board of Education.

If you are an eligible voter but are unable to vote on October 29, you may instead vote at one of the three Advance Polls, the first one is this Sunday:

Advance Poll #1 - Churches: Sunday, October 19, 2014 from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

Cathedral of the Holy Family      123 Nelson Road

St. Paul’s Co-Cathedral          720 Spadina Crescent East

St. Patrick Parish Centre         3339 Centennial Drive

Holy Spirit Parish              114 Kingsmere Place

St. Anne Parish               217 Lenore Drive

Advance Poll #2 at City Hall: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Advance Poll #3 at City Hall: Saturday, October 25, 2014 from Noon – 4:00 pm

The City Hall Advance Poll will be in Committee Room E, 222 3^rd Avenue North: (Enter City Hall through Door No. 1, off 4^th Avenue.  On-street parking is available on 4^th Avenue.  If you are voting after 5:00 p.m. or on Saturday, you may park in the staff parking lot off of 4^th Avenue. This entrance is wheelchair accessible.

Reminder: to be eligible to vote, citizens are required to provide proof of identity and residence, and, on by-election day citizens must:

• be a Canadian citizen
• be at least 18 years of age;
• have resided in the Catholic school division or on land that is now in the school division, for at least three months immediately preceding the by-election;
• have resided in Saskatchewan for at least six months immediately preceding the by-election; and
• be of the religious faith of the minority that established the separate school division, which means you must be of the Roman Catholic faith.

Citizens are not eligible to vote in this by-election if they do not live in the City of Saskatoon.  Eligible citizens may only vote once, regardless of how many properties they own.

For more detailed information about the by-election and the Mobile Polling Station (for those unable to leave their home to vote due to physical disability), please check the Voters’ Guide, located on the homepage of the City’s website, saskatoon.ca. Voters’ Guides are also available at City Hall main lobby, public libraries and at all leisure centres.

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.