HALIFAX - Public transit services in Halifax could be operating again by the end of the week after a tentative agreement was reached in the city's six-week long bus strike.
The city's 750 unionized bus drivers, ferry crew and maintenance workers have been off the job since Feb. 2, forcing thousands of commuters to find other ways of getting around.
The major sticking point in the dispute has been driver scheduling. Mayor Peter Kelly said it was evident in talks this weekend that both the union and management wanted to overcome their differences.
"When you have motivated parties at the table, things can work out," Kelly said in an interview Monday.
"A deal was struck on the contentious issues and that will be further disclosed upon the ratification."
Kelly said details of the agreement reached with the help of a conciliator would not be released until members of the Amalgamated Transit Union and city council votes on the deal, which is scheduled Tuesday.
If the contract is approved, Kelly said buses could be running again as early as Friday.
The transit system in the city was last shut down by a strike in 1998. The city says about 96,000 riders use the transit service daily.
