Tentative agreement reached in Halifax transit strike

Transit service could resume March 16 upon ratification

A tentative agreement has been reached in the six-week-long Halifax transit dispute.

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 508 and Metro Transit reached the deal with the assistance of a conciliator on March 11.

Transit services could resume by the end of the week, according to Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly.

"Hopefully things go well. The buses are back on the road by Friday and depending upon how the ferry operation is going, maybe by Thursday if we're lucky, but if not, by Friday," Kelly told reporters. "Full service should be back in operation by next week."

Details of the agreement won’t be released until members of the union have an opportunity to ratify the deal.

The key issue in the dispute has been driver scheduling. The discussions between the parties this weekend made it evident both the union and management wanted to overcome their differences, said Kelly.

The 750 bus drivers, maintenance workers and ferry crew members have been on strike since Feb. 2. Approximately 96,000 riders have been affected on a daily basis by the job action, according to the City of Halifax.

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