Ninety per cent of Saskatoon Transit union members rejected the city’s most recent contract offer, according to results released Friday.
Transit workers — represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union 615 — voted Aug. 15 but the results remained sealed until several legal issues were resolved.
The city’s latest offer included a 10 per cent wage increase over four years, retroactive back to January 2013, but a key stumbling block was proposed changes to the defined pension plan. The changes included an increase in contribution rates and changes to how earnings are calculated.
The union said the pension changes are not something they’re prepared to accept.
The city has pointed out several times since negotiations began to falter that no other civic union, except the transit union, rejected the pension proposal. Eight out of nine unions approved the contract, the city said.
The city called its recent proposal its final offer. The union said it wants to return to the bargaining table.
Transit workers have been without a contract since December 2012. It’s unclear if any new talks are scheduled.
