Guelph Transit buses will be back on the road by the end of the week.
The more than 200 members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1189 and the city both voted Tuesday to accept the tentative deal reached last week through negotiators.
Union president Andrew Cleary said approximately 80 per cent of votes cast Tuesday were in favour of the deal.
“This was a fair and equitable deal for the City of Guelph (and) for the members of ATU Local 1189,” he said.
Transit workers had been locked out since July 21 after ATU members rejected a previous tentative agreement.
The two sides had been operating without a contract for one year.
Included in the deal is an 8.5 per cent wage increase over four years.
Cleary said the contact also contains a promise from the city to address concerns transit workers have with washroom and lunchroom facilities.
“How we get there … it may be challenging, but we do have a letter of understanding that will get us there,” he said.
The city is offering free transit service to all users from now until August 15th.
"It was one way to express to our community we understand there was an impact," said Mayor Karen Farbridge.
She added, "I don't think it goes anywhere close to covering the impact on some people's lives, but at least it's a gesture to recognize that."
Farbridge adds it's not a time to celebrate. She says the hard work will continue to repair the relationship between city administration and the transit employees.
