Arbitration panel releases OC Transpo ruling

Both the city and Amalgamated Transit Union 279 agreed to enter the arbitration process in a bid to settle their collective bargaining dispute, in the wake of a collective agreement's expiry last March.

The panel – chaired by Brian Keller – ruled that OC Transpo employees are to receive wages increases of 3.25, 2.5 and 2.5 per cent, without any signing bonus, over the three-year contract, which runs from 2008-2010. There were no major changes to contracting out and sick and special leave, while scheduling has been placed in the city's hands to mirror other North American transit providers.

Those rulings will be incorporated into the three-year collective agreement set until the end of March 2011.