The City of Ottawa will issue alternative and contingency travel plans for commuters by Friday to be used in case of a transit strike, the mayor says.

Mayor Larry O'Brien made the announcement Thursday following an emergency closed-door council meeting to discuss negotiations between the city and more than 2,200 OC Transpo drivers, dispatchers and maintenance staff. The workers, who are represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union, voted 98 per cent in favour of striking on Dec. 10 if contract issues aren't resolved by then.

O'Brien said he is satisfied the city has made a fair offer and that negotiations will continue throughout the weekend but said the city will have a plan in place to deal with the situation if union members "choose to turn their backs on what we believe is a fair and reasonable offer in these very, very uncertain economic times."

When asked if he is confident there will not be a strike, he did not respond.

OC Transpo head Alain Mercier declined to comment on the meeting.

Local union president Andre Cornellier has said his members' main issues are contracting out and sick leave.

Bargaining is scheduled for the three days leading up to the strike deadline.