Mayor Peter Kelly says the contentious issue of rostering was only taken off the table in a last-ditch effort to avert the Metro Transit strike.

Now that the strike enters its second week, the issue has become non-negotiable.

After a closed-door update on negotiations between Metro Transit and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 508 Thursday, Kelly told reporters Halifax regional council is sticking to its most recent final offer.

“We gave them choices, with and without (rostering),” Kelly said.

“We’re now dealing with the cost of transit…. The issue about of rostering is worth about $1 million, and the issue of step is worth $2.1 million. So, right now, their ask is about $8.8 million, our offer is about $2.1 (million).”

Kelly could not provide a full breakdown of those numbers. Last week, Metro Transit director Eddie Robar said the union’s ask would cost the municipality $10 million.

Kelly said the municipality remains open to returning to the negotiating table. But he repeatedly insisted the municipality will stick to the offer that was put on the table Wednesday.

“We can’t continue to throw money at the situation,” he said. “We have to fix it, to make (it) efficient for the long term. We can’t use an outdated system of rostering…. That’s (a) $1- million cost to the taxpayers. That is a cost that we think the taxpayers should get the gain.”