Codiac Transpo, Moncton no closer to agreement

The City of Moncton and the union representing Codiac Transpo drivers, mechanics and service workers are no closer to reaching an agreement in the two-month-old contract dispute.

Local buses have been off the road for almost two months after the city locked out the unionized staff.

Transit users say the city and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1290 should get back to the table and work out an agreement.

But Paul Thomson, a city spokesman, says that isn't going to happen anytime soon.

"Things aren't really moving at all at this point in time and that's unfortunate. We are willing and able to go back to the table at anytime but the union also has to willing to come back and come back with realistic demands," Thomson said.

The citylocked outthe 90 Codiac Transpo bus drivers, service workers and mechanics on June 27.

The workers have been without a contract since 2010.

Wages remain a sticking point in the contract dispute. The city's last offer to the transit workers contained a 13.75 per cent wage increase over five years.

That deal would have been retroactive to July 2010 and it contained improved health and dental benefits. The citys offer would have brought a bus drivers annual salary to $51,000 in 2015.

By comparison, the union was asking for a 23 per cent wage increase over five years.

That would have brought a Codiac Transpo bus driver's annual salary to $55,120 in 2015, according to the city.

Transit users struggling

Many transit users say theyare struggling to get around.

Linda McCaustlin says she isn't getting out much lately, and she says it's affecting her health.

She doesn't drive and she says can't walk very far.

McCaustlin has a ride to the grocery store, but it's hard to make daytime appointments because her driving-friends are at work.

"I was going to cardio therapy classes and I've missed half of them," she said.

"I have quite a few problems where I have to see specialists and I have a lot of tests and I'm not making half of them."

Phone calls to the union representing the locked out workers were not returned.