Transit union rejects city's 'fair' labour deal, union president says

The union representing OC Transpo bus drivers, mechanics and other workers has voted against a contract extension with the city, and the union president says "internal union politics" are partly to blame.

It comes after the two parties reached a tentative agreement last week.

About 1,780 of 2,336 eligible voters participated, according to an email sent Thursday by Craig Watson, president of ATU Local 279.

Sixty-two per cent of those voters rejected the deal, which covered a four-year period. It offered a 2 per cent raise in each of the first three years, followed by a 2.25 per cent raise in the final year. It also included maximum dental benefits, one dollar more per hour for new LRT drivers and money for some trades to get new licences.

"The offer was more than fair from the city and it seem internal union politics and possible misrepresentation of the deal reached affected the vote. I'm sure that many of those who voted against this may regret this decision upon further reflection," Watson wrote.

Watson then apologized to OC Transpo general manager John Manconi and his team, who put the deal together.

He also apologized to the mayor, councillors and Ottawa residents.

"They truly do not deserve to go through the labour strife that we faced in 2008 and 2009," Watson wrote. "Let us truly hope that all parties involved can be reasonable and all issues resolved fairly and equitably in 2016."

The collective agreement is set to expire in March 2016.