Sloane backs binding arbitration on transit strike

The councillor for downtown Halifax says it's time the municipality considered binding arbitration to end the Metro Transit strike.

The deadline for striking drivers to accept Halifax Regional Municipality's last offerpassed at midnight Friday. Dawn Sloane said she isfed upthatthe contract dispute returned to square one aftermore than a month of negotiations.

"Frustrated. Saddened," she said Saturday of her feelings toward the impasse.

Sloane said constituents were calling her to ask why neither side would budge. She said the public has had enough of the strike.

"I'm still thinking that binding arbitration is an option, although I know that's not something the HRM side would like to go into," she said.

"I'm seeing a stalemate. I'm seeing that there's nothing coming to the table and I'm concerned for the livelihood of the drivers, those citizens that have had to make arrangements to get to work, to school, or just day-to-day living."

She said HRM was losing credibility for its public transit and that could deter ridership in the long term.

"We need to get back to the table and we need to get this sorted out, period," she said.

Council rejected binding arbitration

Mayor Peter Kelly has rejected binding arbitration, which the union favours, because if the decision went to the union it may cost the city more money.

"How do we know until we actually go there?" Sloane asked.

She said she has discussed it with her colleagues, but she doesn't believe the idea has much support in council.

"It's fine for us to be stubborn and yes, we put a very good offer on the table. My concern now is we're back to square one. We have nothing on the table. I don't see that this is going to change in the near future," she said. "I'm concerned this is going to go on way too long."

No new offer: Kelly

Kelly said Saturday that the city has no new offer for transit workers.

The main dispute is abouthow workers' schedules are put togetherand the associated costs.

Kelly said any new offer from the union must include concessions on scheduling.

"If they want to come forward and negotiate on those terms, that's fine. There is also no more dollars in terms of overall compensation. We believe the taxpayers have been more than fair to the drivers and we do have the responsibility to watch out for the taxpayers' purse," he said.

Kelly said the city will explore alternative options for stranded commuters.

The union has not responded publicly to the passing of the HRM deadline.The union had already turned down the offer.