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Sick calls not job action, Saskatoon transit union says

Dozens of departures were cancelled Thursday as Saskatoon Transit saw an increase in the number of drivers calling in sick.

Again today, impasse renders public transit unreliable

CBC News ·
Bus riders can expect a number of cancellations today. (Chanss Lagaden/CBC)

The union that represents transit workers in Saskatoon is firing back at city hall, saying that it has not suggested its members call in sick to intentionally disrupt bus service.

On its Facebook page, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 615 writes: "Our operators are human and it is currently cold and flu season. Our operators are exposed to higher than normal amounts of people in a confined area for extended periods and they get sick. It happens."

The post said the union has not expanded its job action. 

Yesterday, for the first time since workers began job action two weeks ago, Saskatoon Transit saw a major disruption to its routes.

Jim McDonald, director of transit for the City of Saskatoon, said it was due to an increase of drivers calling in sick. A dozen operators didn't show up to work compared with the typical five absentee workers since the beginning of job action, said McDonald.

Transit workers have implemented an overtime ban after labour negotiations stalled.

The workers have been without a collective bargaining agreement since 2012. 

Friday's cancelled routes

High school routes

  • Route 331 Aden Bowman, Walter Murray and Holy Cross leaving at 3:30 p.m. Students will have to catch Route 81.
  • Route 342 Bedford Road, E.D. Feehan and Mount Royal leaving at 3:35 p.m. Students will have to catch Route 5.  
  • Route 352 St. Joseph leaving at 3:25 p.m. Students will have to catch Route 45 and then transfer at Central Avenue and 103 Street to Route 18.

Regular routes 

  • Route 12 River Heights leaving downtown at 4:45 p.m.
  • Route 19 Market Mall via Lorne Avenue leaving downtown at 3:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
  • Route 18 College Park leaving U of S at 3:38 p.m. and 5:37 p.m.
  • Route 20 South Industrial Special leaving Melville Street and Brand Road at 5:06 p.m.
  • Route 22 Montgomery leaving the Downtown Terminal at 3:29 p.m., 4:59 p.m. and 5:29 p.m.
  • Route 22 Montgomery leaving Confederation Mall at 3:29 p.m.
  • Route 23 Blairmore leaving Confederation Mall to Shaw Centre at 4:24 p.m. and leaving Shaw Centre to Confederation Mall at 4:35 p.m.
  • Route 50 Lakeridge leaving U of S at 4:36 p.m.
  • Route 101 University Direct leaving Campus Drive and College Drive at 2:40 p.m.
  • Abilities Special #1 leaving Abilities Council at 4:15 p.m.

Saskatoon Transit is also warning many other routes will likely be full.

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