Media Release

Metro Transit UNION, MANAGEMENT, REACH DEAL

(Sunday, September 30, 2007 - Halifax, NS) – Members of negotiation teams for the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 508 and Metro Transit management reached a deal at 1:25 p.m. today, averting a transit strike.

“The teams worked through the weekend to reach an agreement and we’re happy that the traveling public can now expect service on Monday,” says Mayor Peter Kelly. “We also have been able to achieve what we needed to regarding hours of rest and scheduling, so we’ve been able to deliver on our commitment to public safety,” says Mayor Kelly.

The union was in a position to withdraw service as of Monday, October 1st. “Both sides worked all weekend to make this happen,” says Mike Labrecque, HRM Director of Transportation and Public Works. The teams met Friday evening and worked until late, reconvening early Saturday morning. They then worked through the night and into Sunday afternoon to reach the deal. The deal will now go before the union membership for ratification. Labrecque says the salary offer in the agreement is within the mandate given to the management team by HRM Council.

A strike would have affected Metro Transit conventional fixed routes, MetroLink, Community Transit, ferry service and Access-A-Bus for the duration of the work stoppage.

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Lori Patterson
Manager, Public Affairs
Metro Transit
902-490-6609 (office)
902-476-5975 (cell)