By paNOW Staff

Update: Saskatoon transit lockout continues after labour board hearing

Sep 27, 2014 | 9:52 AM

paNOW Staff

The provincial labour board ruled in favour of keeping the transit lockout going but putting a stop to any further changes to the city’s general pension fund as of 2:30 p.m. Friday.

On Sept. 16 the amalgamated transit union (ATU) Local 615 and the city of Saskatoon presented arguments to the labour relations board.

The union, represented by Gary Bainbridge argued it was unlawful for the city of Saskatoon to make changes to the general pension fund – including the transit union’s pension – while the labour board had a pending unfair labour practice application in front of them. They also argued the same for Saturday’s lockout.

“Neither party is supposed to be taking any legal action while there’s any kind of matters before the board, so that’s what the case is about,” Bainbridge said.

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In May the union filed an unfair labour practice to the labour relations board after a senior driver was suspended for not wearing a seatbelt and not securing a bus when interacting with the public. Because the complaint was awaiting a decision from the labour board, the union argues both the pension changes and the lockout were unlawful.

City solicitor Patricia Warwick argued the pending complaint had no bearing on the pension and the collective bargaining process therefore the changes to the pension and the lockout were legal.

In the labour board’s decision vice-president Steven Schiefner ordered the city of Saskatoon to halt any further changes to the city’s pension plan, but the lockout would continue. Schiefner sided with the city stating that ending the lockout would take away the city’s power in collective bargaining.

“I think the continued lockout is a signal that the labour relations board agrees that using the tools of asserting economic pressure on the union to achieve a collective bargaining agreement is acceptable so that’s what I’m taking away from this – our argument where we said the lockout is the only tool we have,” Warwick said.

News Talk has learned the changes to the pension enacted by city council on Monday were already in effect, meaning what council passed on Monday is basically set in stone. However Bainbridge said the labour board could eventually ask the city to reverse the decision.

The labour board scheduled another hearing on Oct. 3 to resolve the complaint from May concerning the senior bus driver’s suspension. Both the city and the union will attend a hearing on Oct. 14-15 to discuss the legality of the transit lockout.

Until then 330 transit workers remain locked out and regular bus service remains suspended.

The city of Saskatoon has sent an open invitation to the union to come back to the bargaining table to try and get a contract signed and ratified.

“We still need to come and prove our case that there was an application pending before the lockout and the remedies that go with that – remedies are holding the pension changes and the back pay for any illegal lockout,” Bainbridge said.

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