News Releases

For Release: September 22, 2014

Due to uncertainty surrounding City finances and the future of the General Pension Plan, at a special meeting City Council today approved necessary changes to the Plan.

The changes mean employees and the City will each contribute more to the Plan to ensure it lasts well into the future.

There are nine unions which participate in the General Pension Plan; eight have already reached agreements with the City while the Amalgamated Transit Union, 615 (ATU) has not.

“We have a responsibility to the other eight unions and nearly twenty-two hundred employees who have signed onto the new plan,” Director of Human Resources Marno McInnes says. 

“We have promised City employees that the plan will be there when they need it and City Council has kept that promise.”

The Plan valuation was not up for debate.  The Plan deficit has already been triple checked and verified by a third party review – required under provincial law.  This analysis had been accepted by the City and its unions.  In fact, the valuation formed the basis of the agreement to fix the pension plan every other union has agreed to except for the Transit union.

Saskatoon Transit operations remain suspended following a Saturday lockout of the Transit union.  This, after the union demanded in last-minute bargaining talks a 22% wage increase over five years.

“The pension issue has been settled and the Transit union’s latest wage proposal is not fair to the eight other civic unions which settled for 10 per cent,” McInnes says.  “We hope the Transit union can find a way back to the negotiating table so that our transit operations can return to normal.”

Previously, the City and the Transit union had been at an impasse on the union’s portion of the City’s General Pension Plan which was valued with a $6.7 million deficit.

The issue became an urgent business matter for City Council. The provincial government regulator – The Superintendent of Pensions – last week issued a letter to the City directing the City to pay $90,100 per month starting at January 1, 2014. 

The changes will pay-off the deficit by increasing the contributions of both employees and the City.  The changes will also create a 10% cushion in the fund to absorb any future volatility in the financial markets.

“If Council did not take this bold step, every month that went by without a contract would have cost taxpayers $90 thousand, or just over $1 million per year,” McInnes says.

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.

 

The City of Saskatoon today served a notice of lockout to the Amalgamated Transit Union, 615 (ATU) after 11 months of collective bargaining, and the Transit Union’s rejection of the City’s final contract offer.  The Transit Union is the only bargaining unit affected by the lockout notice.

“The decision was difficult and not taken lightly, but we need a contract,” says Marno McInnes, Director of Human Resources. “The financial position of the City and its General Pension Plan are at risk.”

McInnes says the decision to serve a lockout notice was driven by mounting financial implications for Saskatoon taxpayers, and concerns over transit service disruptions heading into the winter season.

The General Pension Plan continues to be facing a $6.7M deficit as a result of ATU not agreeing to the Plan.  This would require the City to cover ATU’s deficit.

“Every month of delay will cost taxpayers $90,000, or just over $1M per year.  Transit Union delays also move us closer to freezing temperatures when our customers could be left out in the cold,” McInnes says. “Taxpayers and transit customers need us to act now to resolve this urgent financial issue and return transit operations to normal.”

The contract issue centers on the Transit Union’s portion of the City’s General Pension Plan deficit.  The goal is to address the deficit by increasing contributions from both employees and the City, and to make changes to the Plan design to address the pension problem. 

“We are concerned for the future of the pension plan and it is a serious matter,” McInnes says.

The other eight unions/associations which participate in the General Pension Plan have already reached pension and wage agreements with the City, arriving at solutions that work for both their members and taxpayers.  The Union representing transit workers has yet to reach a deal with the City.

“We have a responsibility to protect the pension plan for the other 2,150 employees and eight other unions that are already on board,” McInnes says. “We have promised that the plan will be there when they need it, and we will keep that promise.”

The Transit Union has a 48-hour period to respond to the City’s notice of lockout –which is in line with the rules governing collective bargaining in the Province of Saskatchewan.

We are hopeful that a last minute solution can be reached; however, it is important that transit users make alternate arrangements well before 9:00 p.m. Saturday, September 20, 2014, in the event of a lockout.

It should be noted that Access Transit is an essential service, and will continue operating as normal.

The City has a responsibility to protect taxpayers’ dollars and the benefits of all City employees.  In that spirit, we have worked hard at presenting a fair and competitive offer to the Transit Union.

The City is offering the transit union a wage increase of 10% over four years (2013 - 2016), and has proposed changes to the General Pension Plan that will help protect it into the future.

The City has offered the same four-year wage and pension package to all the other unions/associations which participate in the City’s General Pension Plan.  Agreements have been reached with eight of these unions/associations; the Transit Union is the only union yet to agree and accept a contract.

NEW SATURDAY
23RD ST CLOSED FROM 3RD AVE TO 5TH AVE
(Word on the Street)
Start: September 20, 6:00 a.m. End: September 21, 10:00 p.m.

4TH AVE S CLOSED FROM 19TH ST E TO 20TH ST E
(Road paving)
Start: September 20, 7:00 a.m. End: September 20, 4:00 p.m.

VARIOUS: SPADINA CRES, UNIVERSITY BRIDGE, BROADWAY BRIDGE
(Mogathon)
Start: September 20, 7:00 a.m. End: September 20, 3:00 p.m.

NEW SUNDAY
IDYLWYLD DR SB CURB LANE CLOSED BETWEEN SID BUCKWOLD BRIDGE & 8TH ST OVERPASS
(Guardrail Repair)
Start: September 21, 7:00 a.m. End: September 21, 5:00 p.m.

3RD AVE S NB LANES CLOSED FROM 20TH ST E TO 21ST ST E
(Connection Valve Repair)
Start: September 21, 7:00 a.m. End: September 21, 6:00 p.m.
22ND ST ON-RAMP TO CIRCLE DR SB CLOSED
(Asphalt Repair)
Start: September 21, 7:30 a.m. End: September 21, 11:30 a.m.
ONGOING

21ST ST E EB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 2ND AVE S TO 3RD AVE S
(Roof Construction)
Start: September 19, 5:00 a.m. End: September 22, 8:00 a.m.

4TH AVE S CLOSED FROM 20TH ST E TO 22ND ST E
(Road paving)
Broadway Bridge NB curb (outside) lane closed approaching 19th St
Start: September 18, 9:00 a.m. End: September 20, 9:00 a.m.
20TH ST W EB & WB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANES CLOSED FROM AVE E S TO AVE F S
(Streetscaping)
Start: September 16, 9:00 a.m. End: September 23, 6:00 p.m.
TAYLOR ST E CLOSED FROM MUNROE AVE S TO MCKINNON AVE S
(Water main lining)
Start: September 8, 8:00 a.m. End: October 8, 7:00 p.m.

IDYLWYLD DR SB CURB (OUTSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM 25TH ST TO 24TH ST
(Streetscaping)
Right turn from 25th St EB to Idylwyld Dr SB maintained
Start: September 2, 9:00 a.m. End: September 26, 6:00 p.m.
CENTRAL AVE SB CLOSED FROM 110TH ST W TO 112TH ST W
(Streetscaping)
Two-way traffic accommodated in the NB lanes
Start: August 25, 10:00 a.m. End: September 20, 7:00 p.m.

33RD ST W EB LANES CLOSED FROM AVE Y N TO AVE W N
(Water main lining)
Two-way traffic set in WB lanes of 33rd St
Start: August 22, 10:30 a.m. End: September 24, 6:00 p.m.
AIRPORT DR NB LANES CLOSED ON FROM GATEWAY BLVD TO THE AIRPORT
(Roadway improvements)
Two-way traffic accommodated in the SB lanes. 45th St 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 operates two compost depots that are free for residents of Saskatoon: McOrmond Drive Depot, located just north of 8th Street East on McOrmond Drive; and Highway 7 Depot, located at the corner of Highway 7 and 11th Street West. 

Beginning on Monday, September 22, until the sites close for the season on November 7 (weather permitting), both locations will operate daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Previously, extended hours were offered at the Highway 7 depot when daylight hours were longer. 

The depots accept leaves, grass, sod, topsoil, and non-elm branches, stumps and tree trimmings, and even Halloween pumpkins.  Elm tree clippings or wood is not accepted at any time.  

There are a number of other composting tips and services for residents, including compost bin rebates, master composter advice, and a Winter Composting Presentation on October 1 for Saskatoon residents.  For more information, visit saskatoon.ca and look under “C” for Composting. 

For timely updates, watch for Compost Depot Service Alerts at saskatoon.ca and on Facebook and Twitter (@YXEServiceAlert).
For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.