No bus service in Saskatoon after city locks out transit union

The city of Saskatoon has locked approximately 330 members of its transit union out, bringing bus service in the city to a halt. 

All bus services are suspended except for Access Transit, which is considered an essential service.

Bus riders concerned about Monday commute

Serina Gersher is with the group Bus Riders of Saskatoon.

"We actually formed before the lockout as a result of transit issues that have been happening all in the past," Gersher said.

Upon waking up to news of the lockout Sunday morning, Gersher wasn't sure about how she'll get to work without help from the bus system.

"I hoped it wouldn't get to that. But for Monday morning I'm thinking about walking and it's about 45 minutes one way," she said. 

Grade 12 student chains himself to City Hall to protest lockout

While Gersher considered other travel options, another Saskatoon bus rider took his frustration to straight to City Hall. 

Grade 12 student Dailen Yackobeck chained himself to the doors of City Hall using a bike lock over the weekend. 

"Because of where I live," Yackobeck explained. "It takes me an hour and a half to walk here from my place and in the winter time it takes three, because I had to do that when my bus broke down."

Yackobeck also expressed concern that elderly people will also need the buses to get back on the roads quickly. He said he was out following word of the lockout until about 2 a.m CST Sunday. He went home, and returned at 8 a.m. the same morning. 

"If nothing happens today or tomorrow, I'm going to stay out here until it does," Yackobeck said. "I'm probably going to get my friends, after school, to bring me my homework or something."

Yackobeck said some friends have told him they support him, and others have said his protest is pointless. 

The city issued lockout notice earlier this week, with a deadline for bargaining set at 9 p.m. CST Saturday. 

After both sides say bargaining was unsuccessful, the city locked the transit union out.