The City of Winnipeg and the Amalgamated Transit Union are failing to agree on their proposals.

Dave Wardrop, the Chief Transportation and Utilities Officer says, “Our concern is that ATU is extending negotiations in order to initiate strike actions in September when they know it will be most disruptive to passengers and residents.

“We want to get back to the table and get a resolution so that there is no service disruption for those who rely on Transit services.”

In a media release, The City of Winnipeg says that they presented a new offer on July 3, with focuses on keeping wages and benefits for ATU employees in line with those accepted over the past two years by the City’s other Unions with proposed wage increases.

Wardrop says, “The main issue surrounding negotiations is the cost of the final agreement.

“Every other Union has been able to look at the big picture and has been able to negotiate new contracts that were fair and reasonable for their membership, as well as taxpayers. We hope that ATU recognizes all the investment that is being made into Winnipeg Transit, and be part of the solution. Wage and benefit increases of 8% annually is just not sustainable.”

The items that ATU proposed would equate to an increase of more than 8% each year over the next four years of their contract and the City does not feel this type of increase would be a responsible use of taxpayers' money. This includes a 2.75% general wage increase each year of their proposed four-year contract.

Wardrop notes that over the past two years, the City of Winnipeg has spent nearly $20 million on safety enhancements in city transit.

Wardrop says, “The City of Winnipeg believes that it is more responsible to balance reasonable wage and benefit improvements with investments in the Transit system that benefit Winnipeg Transit employees and passengers alike."

ATU's Response

Zach Fleisher, Communications Director of the ATU, says, "Our concern is the state of Winnipeg transit."

According to a report from the ATU, 43 per cent of buses are late. "To us, that simply isn't acceptable."

Fleisher says that Winnipeg's transit system - and beyond - can be solved by better working conditions.

Fleisher says, " When you improve the working conditions for the workers, the riders benefit as well."

The ATU says the transit workers need better schedules: "We want to see more realistic schedules. If you're putting out a schedule every day that has no chance of making it, it's going o be later or it's going to be later."

Additionally, the Fleisher says," We want to get rid of interlining, ... to make it make more sense. So that's when a driver will work more than one route in a day.

"Within the proposals that the ATU has put forward, there's no 8% increase in wages. The City has put out that number, we've asked them to clarify...and know they're kind of saying, 'Oh, we don't really have that.'"

Fleisher argues, "If you have a service that is on-time, it's reliable, you got more people taking your service - guess what - that means that there is less wear and tear on the roads, its better for the economy, for the environment, and for the city.

We might be able to look at a few dollars and cents right now, but the effect of building a better transit system is something that will benefit the city for years to come."