Saskatoon’s transit union isn’t ready to return to the bargaining table.

The City of Saskatoon issued a media release Friday afternoon inviting the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615, which represents the city’s bus drivers, to resume bargaining talks. Union president Jim Yakubowski responded Saturday, stating bus drivers won’t sit down to talk until the city shows it’s willing to move on its previous contract offers.

“We suggested, until that happens and you have something further to offer, we’re not prepared to come back to the bargaining table,” Yakubowski said.

Marno McInnes, Saskatoon’s director of human resources, invited the union to bargain shortly after the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board denied an appeal from the union to lift the lockout.

“Marno McInnes has my cell phone number. He knows how to get a hold of me if things change,” said Yakubowski.

Ninety-one per cent of union members rejected the city’s offer last month. The offer included a 10 per cent wage increase over four years, retroactive back to January 2013, but also proposed changes to the defined pension plan.

The proposal included an increase in contribution rates and changes to how earnings are calculated. The union said they weren’t willing to accept the pension changes, but on Monday at a special city council meeting, councillors pushed forward a new pension plan for all unions, including the ATU.

The labour board, while electing Friday to postpone its decision on the legality of the transit lockout, ordered the city to halt further changes to the transit union’s pension plan.

“They haven’t necessarily made their final decision on whether the lockout is illegal or not,” said Yakubowski.

The board will meet Oct. 14 and 15 to discuss whether or not the city broke the law when it locked out over 300 transit workers Saturday night.

Yakubowski said he believes, if the labour board rules the city’s actions were illegal, the pension changes brought in by council on Monday will be reversed and that drivers will be compensated for missed work.

The union argues the lockout was illegal because there was an outstanding complaint before the labour board regarding the discipline of a driver.

“The same law applies to both parties. In this case we were not the ones that initiated this action,” Yakubowski said. “We’re not the ones who are preventing the citizens of Saskatoon from service. It’s the city that’s responsible for that, and they control the lockout. They have the ability to lift it.”

The city said they would comply with the labour relations ruling.

“We have not changed our commitment to resolving this labour dispute and returning bus service to our customers,” said McInnes.

“We’ve invited the transit union to resume the bargaining process. We’re ready on a moment’s notice to sit down and bargain.”

The labour board will meet Oct. 3 to discuss the outstanding complaint regarding the driver.