Amalgamated Transit Union president George Turple says Codiac Transpo workers were given the full details of the offer in September. (CBC)

The City of Moncton has reached out to locked out Codiac Transpo workers directly, bypassing the union that represents them.

The city sent letters to the 80 bus drivers, mechanics and service people last week, urging them to ask their union for a private vote.

The city decided to send the letters detailing the latest offer after being contacted by anonymous union members who felt they were not getting the full story from their union executive, said city spokesman Paul Thomson.

"We felt that it was in our best interest to show the membership exactly what the offer entailed — and that's what we did," he said.

George Turple, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1290, contends the workers were given the full details of the city's latest offer in writing in September and they voted 100 per cent to turn it down.

"I don't decide what's going on here, contrary to the city's belief," said Turple.

"Members have not come to us and been denied information or anything of the sort," he said.

"We have regular meetings and they are open to everyone that comes and everyone is informed what is going on and everyone has literature on what's going on."

Moncton locked out the Codiac Transpo workers on June 27 in an ongoing contract dispute, with wages being a key stumbling block.

The city is offering to pay drivers $52,000 a year by 2017, but the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1290 is holding out in hopes of being paid $60,000 per year by 2018.

The workers, who are currently paid about $44,000 a year, have been without a contract since 2010.

No new talks are currently scheduled, leaving people who rely on public transit with few options.

Codiac Transpo serves Moncton, Riverview and Dieppe.