The union representing Access-A-Ride operators in Lethbridge will go into mediated contract talks with the City of Lethbridge. (Photo: City of Lethbridge)

By David Opinko

Access-A-Ride workers apply for mediator in negotiations with City of Lethbridge

Sep 3, 2025 | 1:50 PM

The union representing transit workers in Lethbridge is heading into mediation with the City.

Travis Oberg, President of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 87 (ATU), says negotiations for their 45 members who are Access-A-Ride operators have been ongoing since March 2025, noting that little progress has been made in securing a new collective agreement.

He tells LNN that there have been a number of sticking points, but the biggest ones are wages and job security.

According to Oberg, Access-A-Ride operators used to have wage parity with the City’s other transit employees, but they, unlike everyone else, never received a pay increase during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have two collective agreements, and making an adjustment to one impacts the other one down the road, and we’re not willing to make changes to a lesser amount for our Access-A-Ride members when our transit operators are already receiving something better,” says Oberg. “Our goal is always to ensure that we bring the Access-A-Ride operators up to the same standard as what our transit operators are getting.”

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

He says achieving wage parity would result in a 2.5 to three per cent increase, backdated to the start of the previous contract.

On the topic of job security, Oberg says that contracting out is a major concern for Access-A-Ride drivers.

“It would mean that the employer is not able to overload the system and then contract out work to an outside provider,” Oberg explained. “It would ensure that everyone gets treated equally and that the City increases the capacity of Access-A-Ride as the system grows.”

This would not be the first time that the ATU and City of Lethbridge have entered into mediated talks. Oberg says this step has often proven to deliver their desired results, although it has, on occasion, backfired and given the City a leg up in negotiations.

If mediation were to be unsuccessful, Oberg says a strike vote would be their last resort, although he is hoping that it would not come to that. If it does, seniors and those with physical disabilities would have to ride the normal bus instead and would temporarily lose their Access-A-Ride accommodations.

The City of Lethbridge did not elaborate on the details of the bargaining process, but said it is working towards achieving a new collective agreement with the ATU.

Municipal officials are awaiting dates for mediation, and they say they are ready to return to the bargaining table as soon as possible.