City, Access-A-Ride workers come to a deal

By Lethbridge Herald on November 6, 2025.

Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The City of Lethbridge and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local #987 have ratified a new two-year agreement after eight months of negotiations.

ATU represents 50 City employees who operate the Lethbridge Access-A-Ride (AAR) Fleet. AAR operators will see their wages reach parity with their counterparts on the city’s fixed transit  route come Dec. 31, 2026.

Other roles within AAR, including booking agents and scheduling analysts, will also receive market rate adjustments to their positions.

The parties negotiated with a mediator on Oct. 16-17 and reached a tentative conclusion.  On Oct. 19, AAR members voted in favour on the new agreement. On Tuesday, following the closed session of City Council, the new agreement was unanimously approved

During public discussion on the negotiations, councillor Rajko Dodic, shared his disapproval of ATU president Travis Oberg telling media outlets that ATU’s calls for safer load times and fair compensation have fallen on deaf ears at the bargaining table, a day prior to negotiating with a mediator.

“In (the) 13 years I’ve been involved in on the City side, yes, the taxpayer side, never have I been accused by a union of being unfair or capricious in terms of negotiating wage agreements or collective bargaining agreements,” said Dodic.

Mayor Blaine Hyggen echoed Dodic’s sentiments, calling Oberg’s actions “appalling.”

Hyggen also recognized those actions do not reflect on AAR workers and the critical service they provide to the city.

“(My vote) is based on the great work our Access-A-Ride operators do,” said Hyggen.

Both Hyggen and Dodic noted their vote of approval was based on the fact the agreement was a fair deal for everyone involved.

Wage increases in the new collective agreement are in line with other recent City union negotiations and comparable to similar unions in other municipalities.

The increase breakdown goes as follows:

• Jan. 1, 2025-cost of living increase of 2.5 per cent, for all, paid retroactively.

• Jan. 1, 2025-parity adjustment for operators: $0.72, paid retroactively.

• Jan. 1, 2025-market rate adjustment for booking agent and scheduling analyst $0.63, paid retroactively.

• Jan. 1, 2025 market rate adjustment for dispatcher $0.69, paid retroactively.

• Jan. 1, 2026- cost of living increase of 2.75 per cent, for all.

• July 1, 2026-parity adjustment for operators $0.60

• Dec. 31, 2026-parity rate adjustment for operators $0.61.