City council has approved a collective agreement with the largest OC Transpo employees union, closing the door to a possible shutdown of public transit services this coming winter.
Council gave thumbs up to the deal on Wednesday, the city said in a news release. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279 ratified the contract last weekend.
The agreement extends the city’s previous contract, which expired in March. The union has around 2,500 members, who had been working without a contract since then.
The deal will cover the eight months since March and run through to next April. Workers will receive a 2 per cent wage increase, and have the chance to participate in LRT line work. The deal also solves some pension issues.
“My colleagues and our transit commission, in partnership with the union membership, have put in place a very positive base for the negotiations on a long term contract,” Mayor Jim Watson said in a statement.
The next round of bargaining between the city and the union is expected to begin in December.