By François Biber

Transit negotiations break down, lockout looms

Sep 20, 2014 | 9:09 AM

A Saturday night transit lockout is all but guaranteed after labour negotiations broke down yet again Friday afternoon.

President of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 615 Jim Yakubowski, said both sides met for just 45 minutes on Friday, and even before the union sat down, the city was clear they weren’t moving on pensions or wages.

“It was stated right from the outset that the city has already made the decision on the pension and they were simply moving forward with it and their plans were divulged to us even before we met,” Yakubowski told News Talk Friday evening. “It was stated very clearly that they're not interested in a Western Canadian average formula (for wages) and that they can simply only work within the 10 per cent wage package box that has been accepted by the other unions, and that was the end of discussions today.”

The city has called a special city council meeting for Monday at noon. At the meeting the city’s administration will recommend city council approve changes to the general pension plan – imposing pension contribution rate increases across the city's nine unions including ATU 615.

“From our perspective that's not considered fair collective bargaining when they tell us they're simply going to impose conditions,” Yakubowski said, adding if the city follows through with its “threat” the union will deal with it however they can.

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With negotiations breaking down and no more plans to negotiate ahead of a looming lockout, Yakubowski said “If the city follows through on this the chances (of a lockout) are quite high. ”

Saskatoon’s city solicitor Patricia Warwick issued a statement on behalf of the city stating changes to the general pension fund is an urgent business matter for the city because the superintendent of pensions and the general pension plan’s board of trustees are waiting to implement the changes.

Changes to the plan include a contribution increase of 0.30 per cent every year, for the next three years.

Shortly after the City handed the union the lockout notice on Thursday, director of human resources Marno McInnes said the $6.7 million transit pension deficit was putting the City in financial risk. McInnes added in light of no labour agreement with the ATU, the city was making $90,000 monthly payments to help reduce the deficit.

“That’s money that can be put to something better,” McInnes said.

Yakubowski said he was extremely disappointed with lack of movement from the latest round of labour talks, adding it’s clear the city isn’t willing to change its position on the matter.

“We still have a collective agreement to bargain from our perspective and ultimately that has to happen in order to move forward,” he said. “There was no need for more discussions if that was the position taken today. ”

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