[Dion]

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/...a26f5e&k=51261

Alan Levy, an expert in dispute resolution and labour relations, said that with the city and its transit union on the brink of a strike for the second time in six years, it's a sign of an unproductive relationship.

"They're only going to continue to go around this merry-go-round unless they realize they both have to alter their relationship," said the University of Regina assistant professor.

The most obvious issue is wages -- the city has offered a 12 per cent increase over three years; the union wants 13 per cent over 30 months.

But Mahar said there are equally important outstanding issues: they are concerned about rolling back a pay increase given to some trades to address market inequities, they want the excluded trades given the same bump and they don't like a proposed move to use larger buses on shuttle routes, where the drivers are paid less.