Saskatoon transit workers vote on city offer today

After four years without a contract, Saskatoon’s transit workers are set to vote Tuesday on a deal offered by the city.
 
Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615 will vote in two meetings, one at 10 a.m. and one at 7:30 a.m.
 
Local president Jim Yakubowski didn’t give any opinion on the deal.
 
“This offer’s not coming with any recommendation. We’re simply providing you all the key aspects of the city’s recent offer and you will make the decision on how we proceed in achieving a collective agreement,” he said in a video message to members posted on the union’s Facebook page.  
 
If the union passes votes in favour of the city offer, it will go to city council for a vote on Thursday. The terms of the deal would become public before councillors vote.
 
Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark said he hopes to see an end to the long-running contract dispute.
 
“Hopefully we can get this resolved so everybody can get into the Christmas season with the transit issue settled,” he said during an appearance Tuesday on the Brent Loucks Show.
 
Clark said, if approved, the new deal would only be in effect until the end of 2016. Then it will be right back to the bargaining table to negotiate the city’s next four-year deal with the transit union.