WINNIPEG - July 31, 2008 – The City of Winnipeg and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Local 1505, representing Winnipeg Transit Drivers and Maintenance Workers, have reached a settlement with respect to concluding a collective agreement.

All matters were resolved by mutual consent, with the exception of the proposal with respect to Sunday shifting, which the parties have agreed to refer to arbitration. All wage and benefit provisions previously offered by the City are maintained in the present settlement. These include a general salary increase of 2% in 2008, 2.2% in 2009, and 3% in 2010.

City of Winnipeg Chief Administrative Officer Glen Laubenstein said, “This settlement is fair to employees, and enables us to meet our obligations to the public. I would like to thank all those involved in the negotiations for their hard work to help achieve a satisfactory resolution.”

Laubenstein added, “Throughout the negotiations, a number of non-contractual items arose in the discussions. The City is committed to continue these discussions, working with the union and employees to improve our workplaces, and thereby improve service to the public.”

There may be some minor scheduling issues with respect to today’s Transit service; regular schedules will resume shortly.

WINNIPEG - July 31, 2008 – Debby, the Assiniboine Park Zoo’s famous Polar Bear, is showing signs of her advanced age and the prognosis of recovery from age-related medical problems is not good. Debby continues to reside in her home exhibit and is out to see her ‘public’ most days. At 41 years, 8 months, Debby is the world’s oldest living Polar Bear, an achievement recognized in the 2008 Guinness Book of Records, and in an article in Polar Bears International Magazine. In fact, she appears to be the third oldest bear ever recorded for all eight living species of bears.  

Zoo officials have chosen to announce Debby’s failing health because she means so much to so many people. Many visitors in recent years, who were children when they first saw Debby as a youngster, have brought their own children and grandchildren to see Winnipeg’s cherished bear. An orphan from the Russian Arctic, Debby arrived as a cub in 1967. She produced six surviving offspring with her long-time mate Skipper, who passed away in 1999 at the remarkable age of 34. Few Polar Bears reach 20 years of age in the wild, but a significant number of captive individuals have survived into their early 30s.

Debby has thrilled over 18 million visitors over her long tenure at the Zoo, and is without a doubt the most-popular animal in its 104-year history. A wonderful ambassador for her species, it is significant that she has survived to 2008, the International Year of the Polar Bear, so designated by Polar Bears International, which promotes the conservation of the species under threat by global warming. 

WINNIPEG - July 31, 2008

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