Press release.
Earlier today the City of Guelph presented a final offer to Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1189, having reached an impasse after 22 days of bargaining. That final offer represents the mandate provided to staff by City Council.
Presenting the union with a final offer allows all ATU members with a stake in the negotiations to view the City’s proposal and decide whether to accept or reject it. The City has requested a provincially monitored vote, which will take place in July.
“We hope ATU members compare the offer with transit union agreements in other cities,” said David Godwaldt, the City’s general manager of human resources. “If they do, we think they’ll find it is fair and competitive.”
“The City has given serious consideration to the negative impacts a public transit service disruption would pose to the community and, in particular, the riders who rely on this system,” says Guelph’s Mayor Karen Farbridge. “We are still working to avoid a disruption altogether and remain hopeful about reaching an agreement.”
The City has demonstrated its willingness to negotiate an agreement that includes fair wages and benefits for employees, reasonable rates for transit users and affordability for taxpayers. The agreement presented to the Union is consistent with other recent Ontario transit union agreements.
The City of Guelph has a demonstrated track record of reaching mutually beneficial agreements with its unions.
The City will continue posting negotiation updates at guelph.ca/atu.