HRM rejects transit union offer

Halifax regional council has rejected an offer made Monday by the transit union to resolve the ongoing strike.

Mayor Peter Kelly said the offer was "flatly rejected" at an in-camerameeting of council Tuesday afternoon.

Kelly saidthe proposal by the Amalgamated Transit Union local 508 to end the strike would cost $19 million, while the city's package would cost $14 million.

He said the union was asking for a 2.5 per cent raise every year over the next five years.The union also wants to retain control of rostering, or scheduling shifts, while city managers want to take that over.

"Council flatly rejects the offer of ATU basically on cost. It would cost the taxpayers $7 million more than what we had proposed and so we have gone back with our final offer," Kelly said.

"There is no more money, folks. That's the issue that council wants to make very clear: there is no more money to give. We gave every step along the way, we cannot give anymore. The offer is there, we think it's more than fair."

The most recent offer from city hall which was voted down byunion members on Friday remains the final offer, he said.

The city's offer included a five-year contract with $1,500 signing bonus and 2.25 per cent increase in each of the last four years. It was was rejected by a 78 per cent margin on Friday.

That deal will be be on the table until 11:59 p.m. Friday,Kelly said, and after that it's "back to square one."That is, every issue that has already been settled is no longer settled and they will begin again.

Ken Wilson, transit union president, was not available for comment Tuesday. Hewill comment on the deal Wednesday.

Metro Transit users were upset by council's refusal of the union proposal.

"If it's the city that's rejecting the union's offer, it's kind of really showing that they don't care. It's come down to money," Brandon Loukas said.

"I think it's time for them to get back to work," Stephanie Weatherbee said.

At the picket lines, transit workers said they're disappointed with the city.

"We hoped to be back to work and we're not and we're out here freezing for it now. I hope it comes to an end soon," Nathan Clark said.

On Monday, Wilson said that the union's latest offerwould have protected his members right to select their own shifts.

Wilson said the union wasn't satisfied with the language written in management's most recent offer about rostering-style scheduling.

The union, with about 750 employees, walked off the job Feb. 2.