The first formal talks since York Region Transit drivers walked off the job six weeks ago ended abruptly just hours after they began Saturday.
Officials with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 and Viva returned to the table Saturday morning with the assistance of a provincial mediator, but were unable to make any headway.
According to ATU Local 113 President Bob Kinnear, talks broke down shortly after 12 p.m. due to a disagreement over health care benefits.
Viva bus operators currently pay half the cost of their benefits,
ATU Local 113 was offering to reduce its wage demands in exchange for Viva agreeing to ramp up their contribution.
"It is important to point out that the union made the first move towards getting a settlement and it was a substantial move for our people," Kinnear said in a press release. "We then dropped our proposal once again, but the company walked away."
About 220 Viva employees are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 while another 340 employees are represented by ATU Local 1587, which did not take part in the negotiations.
On Saturday Kinnear said binding arbitration may be the only solution to the strike, something both Viva and York Regional Council have rebuffed in recent weeks.
"We'll go back to work tomorrow if the company agrees to this," he said.
