Union confirms Fredericton transit workers accepted city's final offer

Fredericton transit workers accepted the city of Fredericton'sfinal offer on Saturday to avoidtaking job action and interrupting service to the city's transit system.

"After much debate over this offer, the union concluded an agreement to avoid negative impacts onthose who depend on this service the most, the riders," saidCUPEnational representativeRalph McBride in a statement released Sunday.

• City of Fredericton, transit union reach tentative agreement

• City of Fredericton rejects transit union's latest counter offer

• Fredericton bus drivers and city end mediation without progress

• Fredericton bus drivers reject offer, prepare for transit strike

Canadian Union of Public Employees 1783 have beenin a strike position since December. The 43 Fredericton transit workers who were making $22 an hourrejected the city's offer Jan. 10 and both sides ended mediation Jan. 12.

The city'sfinal offer to the drivers is a1.75 per cent increase in each of the first three years of a new contract and 2.5 per cent annual increases in each of the final two years of a five-year deal.

The city will also increase biweekly payments for health and other benefits by $25, upping those payments to $200.

The city had rejected the union's counter-offer on Feb. 9.

McBride said while the offer didn't correct all the transit drivers and workersconcerns,they decided to do what was right and remain in the job.

"Local 1783 has always taken the high road to try to bargain a better deal for their members. However,
at this point, they felt that it was time to move forward and relief the stress of the ridership," McBride said.

The union representative said the members wanted to thank transit userstheir understanding over the last few months.

The43 Fredericton transit workers operated 28 buses on nine differentroutes throughout the city.

On Saturday,city's communications manager Wayne Knorr confirmed a tentative agreement had been reached. He addeddocuments would be prepared for signing and a joint statement wouldbe issued at a later date.