David Alward calls for new Codiac Transpo talks

Premier David Alward is urging Moncton and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1290 to get back to the bargaining table and end the contract dispute.

People in Moncton have been without public transit since June 27 when the city locked out its transit workers.

Alward said the provincial government will not get involved in the contract dispute, but he hopes the two sides can settle the eight-week-old lock out.

"We're not looking at stepping in. I do know that it creates a hardship for many people," he said.

"But, again, it is a municipal service, or a local service and it's the responsibility of the city and their employees to find a solution."

Alward is encouraging both sides to start talking again.

"I believe through dialogue is the best way to encourage that to happen but ultimately it is the responsibility of the city."

Earlier this week the Amalgamated Transit Union called for binding arbitration but the city refused.

Several citizens showed up at a Moncton council meeting on Monday night to complain about the lockout.

One woman told the city politicians that she lost her job because she couldnt get to work without the buses.

However, Monctons deputy mayor said the union had to come up with more realistic demands before a contract could be negotiated.

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.

The transit workers have been without a contract since 2010.

Codiac Transpo serves Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe.