Talks with transit workers to resume Nov. 1 (Hamilton Spectator)

Contract talks between the city and the union representing HSR workers will resume on Thursday, November 1, 2007.

By , Last Updated Tuesday, October 30, 2007

(Originally published in the Hamilton Spectator on October 29, 2007.)

Mayor Fred Eisenberger says he is pleased contract talks between the city and the union representing Hamilton Street Railway workers will resume on Thursday.

Drivers, mechanics and support staff voted 94.5 per cent recently to reject the city's latest offer.

In a written statement issued after a closed-door council briefing on the negotiations, Eisenberger said: "It is the city's understanding the ATU (Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 107) does not have a strike mandate at this time.

"We are pleased that the union has agreed to return to the bargaining table. We are all anxious to avoid disruption of public transit service and it is our feeling that is best done by allowing the negotiating process to continue. Council has full confidence in the negotiating team to deliver on the mandate they've been given."

Drivers earning $20.15 to $23.69 an hour have been offered 1.5 per cent retroactive to Jan. 1, 1.5 per cent retroactive to July 1 and further increases of 1.5 per cent next Jan. 1 and July 1, 2008.