The union representing Saskatoon’s transit workers has issued a 48-hour strike notice.
The Amalgamated Transit Union presented the City of Saskatoon with the job action notice Friday.
A strike could begin as early as Sunday at 5 p.m.
“Unfortunately we’re in a position now where our members want this settled,” ATU president Jim Yakubowski said.
His letter to the city — the strike notice — did not clarify what the strike could consist of, but he told CTV News the strike would not impact Access Transit.
“We are at this point not intending to remove our services completely,” he said.
Bus riders can expect service disruptions Sunday evening, the city said in a media release.
City negotiators recently issued the transit union another offer and the two sides have been negotiating all week, according to the city.
“We are disappointed to receive strike notice since we have been bargaining all week and have made significant progress,” Marno McInnes, the city’s human resources director, said.
“We have narrowed the gap between the parties and just provided the Transit union with another offer.”
Yakubowski is hopeful the two sides will be able to reach a deal before the strike. Transit union representatives will be making themselves available, he said.
“I hope that no action is necessary,” he said.
Transit workers in Saskatoon have been without a contract for four years, and in 2014, bus drivers were locked out by the city for about a month. Pension and wages have been the two main points of contention in the negotations.
