'We are very close' but still no deal, says Mayor Charlie Clark of Saskatoon transit dispute

The union representing Saskatoon bus drivers and the city administration remain at an impasse over their collective bargaining agreement after an in-camera meeting of city council Monday afternoon.

But Mayor Charlie Clark says he believes the four-year dispute is getting closer to reaching an end.

"We are very close in the matter, much closer than we were in the summer," he said after the meeting.

"And as has been identifiedthere really has been only one outstanding issue, so we just need to get that settled so everybody can get back to their lives."

On Nov. 12, the Amalgamated Transit Union local began work-to-rule action against the city, refusing to work overtime.

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The workers, who are represented by the Saskatoon Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615, have been without a collective bargaining agreement since 2012.

Although the two sides have found a compromise on wages, the pension plan continues to be the dividing issue.

Council maintained its stance on the issue after holding an in-camera meeting Monday.

But Mayor Charlie Clark said after the meeting he believes the two sides are getting closer to reaching a deal.

"I believe we're getting closer and that we can do that but we want to get back to the bargaining table so we can get things settled," said Clark.

In a news release last week, the city said it was telling workers that if they accepted itsdealthey would receive a back-payment beforethe holidays.

The payment would dateback to the end of the last collective bargaining agreement in 2012.

On Monday, the city said workers would need to sign the agreement by Dec. 19 to receive the payment in time for Christmas.

Union president Jim Yakubowski said in a statement earlier this month the union had no alternative but to take job action.

"As long as our members are willing to stand behind what the directive was, then we're willing to go as long as it takes," he said.