A strike in 2008-09 shut down bus service in Ottawa for 51 days. (CBC)

The union representing transit workers says contract talks scheduled to start this Thursday won't happen, which could be worrying news for transit users in the National Capital Region.

Mike Aldrich, the acting president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 279, told CBC News on Monday that unless the employer changes its bargaining team there won't be any progress on a new contract.

"We have the same players negotiating the same proposals," said Aldrich, referring to the 51-day strike in 2008-09 that shut down buses in the city.

"We know what happened last time. I'm not interested in going down that road."

The union says the contentious scheduling policy brought in by the city remains a major stumbling block to achieving a new contract — and with the same negotiating team it's unlikely there will be any progress.

The union is hoping Mayor Jim Watson can help find a way to resolve the issue.

"One of his campaign promises was to repair the poisoned atmosphere at OC Transpo but so far nothing has been fixed," Aldrich said. "So until we see some changes, or improvements, we'll wait."

Not up to speed

But Watson isn't set to immediately resolve the first-hot button issue of his new administration.

A spokesperson said the mayor is not up to speed on the OC Transpo file and doesn't want to negotiate important issues in the media.

But new Coun. Keith Egli said he's hoping the union's position is simply pre-negotiation strategy.

"I'm hoping this doesn't mean they don't want to bargain," said Egli, "The city definitely wants to bargain and I know everyone wants to avoid what happened last time around."

The existing contract between the city and its more than 2,000 transit employees expires in just over three months.

The union said it is unlikely there will be a new deal in place by that time, but it is prepared to keep on working. There is "no way the union wants a strike," Aldrich said.