(WINNIPEG TRANSIT / FILE)
The City of Winnipeg has put forward an offer to the Amalgamated Transit Union 1505 as the two parties continue to work on a new contract agreement, while also trading words publicly.
Both sides have been in negotiations since January 4, 2019. The city says it presented a fair proposal to the union on March 21.
ATU 1505 members will begin voting on the offer on April 1, with results expected on Friday, April 5. If the offer is rejected, the union will have a strike mandate.
“We are committed to negotiating in a fair and reasonable manner, and are hopeful for a successful conclusion to negotiations that won’t result in any disruption to transit services for the thousands of users that rely on it every day to get to work, university, school, and appointments,” said Michael Jack, the city’s chief corporate services officer.
The city is reminding residents that ongoing negotiations don’t currently have an impact on Winnipeg Transit service.
ATU 1505 slammed the city’s release Thursday, saying in a statement that the city is incorrect in stating that a rejection of the contract vote would equate to a strike vote.
“It is unfortunate that the City of Winnipeg feels the need to bring negotiations between the city and the ATU 1505 into the public for the second time in four years,” said Aleem Chaudhary, president of ATU 1505.
“If the City of Winnipeg felt that they had made a fair offer to our membership, then we sincerely doubt that they would be releasing public statements regarding the proposal to the media and general public.”
The union says it won’t be making any further statements until after the vote by its membership.
