Post by bennyp81 on Jun 20, 2005 5:48:40 GMT -8
Bart Reed
User ID: 0965344 Sep 3rd 5:43 PM
The labor contracts between the various Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority unions expires and here are the developments:
Daily News: Tuesday, June 20, 2000
MTA strike OK'd if talks fail (369 words—Article)
By Dominic Berbeo, Staff Writer
Local bus drivers and subway operators on Monday voted overwhelmingly to strike if their union and transportation officials fail to reach a contract agreement by the end of June.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials say they will request that the governor intervene in the talks by imposing a 60-day "cooling off" period prohibiting a strike, which could cripple traffic during the Democratic National Convention.
If Gov. Gray Davis grants such a provision, it would ensure that any strike would not take place until after the mid-August convention, sparing local officials from embarrassment.
"We did not plan it to work out this way, but we are glad that it did work out," said MTA spokesman Marc Littman. "However, we return to the bargaining table tomorrow, and we're still hoping to reach an agreement soon to avoid a strike."
The MTA is negotiating with the United Transportation Union, which represents 4,300 bus drivers and rail operators, as well as several other transportation employee unions for three-year contracts. The current contract expires June 30.
On Monday, the union voted 3,247 to 71 in favor of a potential strike, but UTU officials were also hopeful an agreement could be worked out.
"It has been the case for many years that meaningful negotiations do not really begin until there is some kind of deadline in place and this is the first step in establishing such a deadline," UTU General Chairman James A. Williams said.
For the governor to impose a "cooling off" period, he must determine that a strike would significantly disrupt public transportation services and endanger the public's health, safety or welfare.
A panel would then be set up to study the situation and within seven days, issue a public written report, which would be submitted to a court to consider imposition of a temporary injunction barring the strike.
The current contract comes to an end just days after the opening of two new Metro rail stations and several bus lines in the San Fernando Valley.
Countywide, there are more than 250,000 union employees negotiating contracts this summer.
ޮήޮήÞ
Bart Reed
User ID: 0965344 Sep 3rd 6:02 PM
TRANSIT STRIKE #2
Further developements on the Year 2000 labor contracts between the MTA and it's unions:
Daily News: Friday, June 30, 2000
Davis blocks bus, train strike in L.A. (517 words—Article)
By Troy Anderson, Staff Writer
Hoping to avert a crippling transit strike, Gov. Gray Davis ordered a seven-day extension Thursday of the union contract covering Metropolitan Transit Authority bus and train operators, which was to expire Saturday.
The transportation workers' threat of a job action came at the same time hundreds of hospital, clinic and clerical workers rallied downtown, threatening to strike during the Democratic National Convention in August.
The United Transportation Union, representing more than 4,200 MTA bus and train operators, was ready to strike Saturday, but Davis appointed an investigative board, thereby extending the contract.
Once the extension ends, the governor could seek a 60-day cooling off period to avoid a strike, or workers could walk off the job during the convention, scheduled for Aug. 14 to Aug. 17 at the Staples Center.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said the union is being shortsighted.
"Such a walk-out will seriously cripple transit riders' ability to support themselves and their families, at the same time creating major traffic problems for motorists across the area," Antonovich said.
At issue are wages and benefits. The top rate for bus and rail operators is $20.72 an hour. Union spokesman Goldy Norton declined to provide details about the union's demands.
MTA officials said a strike would cripple Los Angeles transit.
"It would cause major disruption to our customers and the public in general, particularly for those who depend on bus and rail service to get to jobs, schools, medical appointments and other important destinations," MTA spokesman Marc Littman said.
Also Thursday, members of Service Employees International Union Local 660, which represents 45,000 county hospital, clinic and clerical workers, marched outside the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration building to announce a strike vote on Aug. 15.
"We're not going to set any police cars on fire," said Annelle Grajeda, general manager of the union. "Our union members are exercising their right of free speech. We're not looking to cause any unnecessary unrest. Our union has endorsed Vice President Al Gore, so it's not our intention to disrupt the convention."
County officials said the union has purposely delayed a settlement.
"We went to them last year and asked them to come in and negotiate their contracts early so they would not be bargaining during the convention," said Donna Singh, assistant division chief for employee relations in the county's Chief Administrative Office. "They declined to do so."
The union, which represents many county clerical workers who earn $1,800 to $2,000 a month, is seeking a new contract with raises of more than 3 percent a year.
"The Silicon Valley millionaires are making a ton of money in this economy, and yet the people who are holding it together are not getting their fair share," Grajeda said.
The union's contract, which involved a 12 percent raise over the last three years, will expire Sept. 30. The union began negotiating with the county for a new contract last week.
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Bart Reed
User ID: 0965344 Sep 3rd 6:06 PM
TRANSIT STRIKE #3
And the Times checked in on the early developments as Governor Gray Davis added 60 more days to reach a settlement:
Los Angeles Times: Friday, June 30, 2000
Davis Expected to Try to Avert Strike by MTA Unions (346 words—Article)
LOS ANGELES--Gov. Gray Davis is preparing to invoke a seven-day cooling-off period and appoint an independent review panel to avert a transit strike, negotiators for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and union leaders said Thursday.
"The MTA welcomes the appointment of a board of investigation by Gov. Gray Davis that will prevent interruption of Metro Bus and Metro Rail service for at least seven days," the agency said in a statement.
"The board will have one week to review the issues surrounding MTA labor contract negotiations and the current status of those talks and report back to the governor."
After receiving the panel's report, the governor can ask the attorney general to seek a court order imposing a 60-day cooling-off period, a move that would prevent the possibility of a strike until after the Democratic National Convention in mid-August.
The labor contracts of three unions representing the vast majority of MTA's employees expire at midnight tonight. Unable to reach agreement on a new contract with any of the unions, the MTA asked Davis to take steps that could lead to a 60-day cooling-off period during which the unions could not strike.
United Transportation Union spokesman Goldy Norton said that after Davis invokes his power to establish the independent panel, no strike or lockout can occur for at least seven days.
He said the union, which represents MTA bus and train operators, will make a presentation to the investigative board on its efforts to win a new contract with the transit agency.
Members of both the United Transportation Union and the Amalgamated Transportation Union, which represents MTA mechanics, had authorized union leaders to call a strike if necessary, though no date for any walkout had been set.
The agency is determined to reduce its operating costs, which are the highest in the region. Union leaders want to protect their members and have expressed concern about the slow pace of negotiations.
ޮήޮήÞ
Bart Reed
User ID: 0965344 Sep 4th 4:55 PM
Please share your thoughts, comments and observations about the labor situation over at the Metropolitan Transit Authority.
Are the unions correct in maintaining Work Rules and Seniority Conditions that go back to the 1930's?
What inefficient work rules do you know about?
How would you correct them?
What about the mechanics union. It will not let $13.22/hour or $17.12/hour service attendants pick up a screw driver or a ratchet wrench to change a light bulb or fix a seat or change the oil. Should a $24.84/hour Master Mechanic have to do these jobs?
Please comment here:
Pierre A Plauzoles
User ID: 1202654 Oct 11th 12:47 PM
You just answered your own question. The provision that calls for someone who is paid almost $25 per hour to do what some high-school student can do on his own car -- and do it right!!! -- is stupidity personified. That brings into question the very basic credibility of the the MTA's higher management. That kind of contract reminds mne of the situation that made such a laughingstock some years ago when procurement of screwdrivers and nuts and bolts was said to require the expenditure of hundreds opf dollars for one screwdiver or one bolt.
As for the strike itself, it reminds me of the air traffic controllers strike (was it not duringPresident Reagan's tenure in office?). Both unions are operating in the public sector providing support for transportation used by the general public. The UTU's strike against the MTA, although it is not the same as the air traffic controllers strike in its extent, does unfairly affect large numbers of people who are in fact innocent victims in a very similar manner: it prevents them from earning their living and makes iot impossible (or almost) to do the shopping they need to do on a daily basis or to get to various venues (such as doctors' offices).
Given that fact, it makes me wish there were a way to remove the union from the picture. Am I on the side of MTA management? No. I think the MTA management should be replaced by a more responsive set of officers who put community needs first instead of lining their own pockets. Had management been more responsive to community needs, perhaps they would have spent the transit money more wisely and we would now have a Red Line that extends all the way out to Burbank (LAT) and Los Angeles International (LAX) Airports or even San Fernando and Woodland Hills. Don't get me wrong: I think that what we have under Wilshire is nice, but the Hollywood Boulevard collapse was a very real fiasco. Had the proper geological studies been done, they would have found out what the hydrology of the area is like well before starting to dig, and would have been able to avoid the collapse (choosing a contractor a little better would have helped too), but then, from what I have heard, it was a case of playing favorites, something that has no place in such situations.
User ID: 0965344 Sep 3rd 5:43 PM
The labor contracts between the various Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority unions expires and here are the developments:
Daily News: Tuesday, June 20, 2000
MTA strike OK'd if talks fail (369 words—Article)
By Dominic Berbeo, Staff Writer
Local bus drivers and subway operators on Monday voted overwhelmingly to strike if their union and transportation officials fail to reach a contract agreement by the end of June.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials say they will request that the governor intervene in the talks by imposing a 60-day "cooling off" period prohibiting a strike, which could cripple traffic during the Democratic National Convention.
If Gov. Gray Davis grants such a provision, it would ensure that any strike would not take place until after the mid-August convention, sparing local officials from embarrassment.
"We did not plan it to work out this way, but we are glad that it did work out," said MTA spokesman Marc Littman. "However, we return to the bargaining table tomorrow, and we're still hoping to reach an agreement soon to avoid a strike."
The MTA is negotiating with the United Transportation Union, which represents 4,300 bus drivers and rail operators, as well as several other transportation employee unions for three-year contracts. The current contract expires June 30.
On Monday, the union voted 3,247 to 71 in favor of a potential strike, but UTU officials were also hopeful an agreement could be worked out.
"It has been the case for many years that meaningful negotiations do not really begin until there is some kind of deadline in place and this is the first step in establishing such a deadline," UTU General Chairman James A. Williams said.
For the governor to impose a "cooling off" period, he must determine that a strike would significantly disrupt public transportation services and endanger the public's health, safety or welfare.
A panel would then be set up to study the situation and within seven days, issue a public written report, which would be submitted to a court to consider imposition of a temporary injunction barring the strike.
The current contract comes to an end just days after the opening of two new Metro rail stations and several bus lines in the San Fernando Valley.
Countywide, there are more than 250,000 union employees negotiating contracts this summer.
ޮήޮήÞ
Bart Reed
User ID: 0965344 Sep 3rd 6:02 PM
TRANSIT STRIKE #2
Further developements on the Year 2000 labor contracts between the MTA and it's unions:
Daily News: Friday, June 30, 2000
Davis blocks bus, train strike in L.A. (517 words—Article)
By Troy Anderson, Staff Writer
Hoping to avert a crippling transit strike, Gov. Gray Davis ordered a seven-day extension Thursday of the union contract covering Metropolitan Transit Authority bus and train operators, which was to expire Saturday.
The transportation workers' threat of a job action came at the same time hundreds of hospital, clinic and clerical workers rallied downtown, threatening to strike during the Democratic National Convention in August.
The United Transportation Union, representing more than 4,200 MTA bus and train operators, was ready to strike Saturday, but Davis appointed an investigative board, thereby extending the contract.
Once the extension ends, the governor could seek a 60-day cooling off period to avoid a strike, or workers could walk off the job during the convention, scheduled for Aug. 14 to Aug. 17 at the Staples Center.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said the union is being shortsighted.
"Such a walk-out will seriously cripple transit riders' ability to support themselves and their families, at the same time creating major traffic problems for motorists across the area," Antonovich said.
At issue are wages and benefits. The top rate for bus and rail operators is $20.72 an hour. Union spokesman Goldy Norton declined to provide details about the union's demands.
MTA officials said a strike would cripple Los Angeles transit.
"It would cause major disruption to our customers and the public in general, particularly for those who depend on bus and rail service to get to jobs, schools, medical appointments and other important destinations," MTA spokesman Marc Littman said.
Also Thursday, members of Service Employees International Union Local 660, which represents 45,000 county hospital, clinic and clerical workers, marched outside the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration building to announce a strike vote on Aug. 15.
"We're not going to set any police cars on fire," said Annelle Grajeda, general manager of the union. "Our union members are exercising their right of free speech. We're not looking to cause any unnecessary unrest. Our union has endorsed Vice President Al Gore, so it's not our intention to disrupt the convention."
County officials said the union has purposely delayed a settlement.
"We went to them last year and asked them to come in and negotiate their contracts early so they would not be bargaining during the convention," said Donna Singh, assistant division chief for employee relations in the county's Chief Administrative Office. "They declined to do so."
The union, which represents many county clerical workers who earn $1,800 to $2,000 a month, is seeking a new contract with raises of more than 3 percent a year.
"The Silicon Valley millionaires are making a ton of money in this economy, and yet the people who are holding it together are not getting their fair share," Grajeda said.
The union's contract, which involved a 12 percent raise over the last three years, will expire Sept. 30. The union began negotiating with the county for a new contract last week.
ޮήޮήÞ
Bart Reed
User ID: 0965344 Sep 3rd 6:06 PM
TRANSIT STRIKE #3
And the Times checked in on the early developments as Governor Gray Davis added 60 more days to reach a settlement:
Los Angeles Times: Friday, June 30, 2000
Davis Expected to Try to Avert Strike by MTA Unions (346 words—Article)
LOS ANGELES--Gov. Gray Davis is preparing to invoke a seven-day cooling-off period and appoint an independent review panel to avert a transit strike, negotiators for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and union leaders said Thursday.
"The MTA welcomes the appointment of a board of investigation by Gov. Gray Davis that will prevent interruption of Metro Bus and Metro Rail service for at least seven days," the agency said in a statement.
"The board will have one week to review the issues surrounding MTA labor contract negotiations and the current status of those talks and report back to the governor."
After receiving the panel's report, the governor can ask the attorney general to seek a court order imposing a 60-day cooling-off period, a move that would prevent the possibility of a strike until after the Democratic National Convention in mid-August.
The labor contracts of three unions representing the vast majority of MTA's employees expire at midnight tonight. Unable to reach agreement on a new contract with any of the unions, the MTA asked Davis to take steps that could lead to a 60-day cooling-off period during which the unions could not strike.
United Transportation Union spokesman Goldy Norton said that after Davis invokes his power to establish the independent panel, no strike or lockout can occur for at least seven days.
He said the union, which represents MTA bus and train operators, will make a presentation to the investigative board on its efforts to win a new contract with the transit agency.
Members of both the United Transportation Union and the Amalgamated Transportation Union, which represents MTA mechanics, had authorized union leaders to call a strike if necessary, though no date for any walkout had been set.
The agency is determined to reduce its operating costs, which are the highest in the region. Union leaders want to protect their members and have expressed concern about the slow pace of negotiations.
ޮήޮήÞ
Bart Reed
User ID: 0965344 Sep 4th 4:55 PM
Please share your thoughts, comments and observations about the labor situation over at the Metropolitan Transit Authority.
Are the unions correct in maintaining Work Rules and Seniority Conditions that go back to the 1930's?
What inefficient work rules do you know about?
How would you correct them?
What about the mechanics union. It will not let $13.22/hour or $17.12/hour service attendants pick up a screw driver or a ratchet wrench to change a light bulb or fix a seat or change the oil. Should a $24.84/hour Master Mechanic have to do these jobs?
Please comment here:
Pierre A Plauzoles
User ID: 1202654 Oct 11th 12:47 PM
You just answered your own question. The provision that calls for someone who is paid almost $25 per hour to do what some high-school student can do on his own car -- and do it right!!! -- is stupidity personified. That brings into question the very basic credibility of the the MTA's higher management. That kind of contract reminds mne of the situation that made such a laughingstock some years ago when procurement of screwdrivers and nuts and bolts was said to require the expenditure of hundreds opf dollars for one screwdiver or one bolt.
As for the strike itself, it reminds me of the air traffic controllers strike (was it not duringPresident Reagan's tenure in office?). Both unions are operating in the public sector providing support for transportation used by the general public. The UTU's strike against the MTA, although it is not the same as the air traffic controllers strike in its extent, does unfairly affect large numbers of people who are in fact innocent victims in a very similar manner: it prevents them from earning their living and makes iot impossible (or almost) to do the shopping they need to do on a daily basis or to get to various venues (such as doctors' offices).
Given that fact, it makes me wish there were a way to remove the union from the picture. Am I on the side of MTA management? No. I think the MTA management should be replaced by a more responsive set of officers who put community needs first instead of lining their own pockets. Had management been more responsive to community needs, perhaps they would have spent the transit money more wisely and we would now have a Red Line that extends all the way out to Burbank (LAT) and Los Angeles International (LAX) Airports or even San Fernando and Woodland Hills. Don't get me wrong: I think that what we have under Wilshire is nice, but the Hollywood Boulevard collapse was a very real fiasco. Had the proper geological studies been done, they would have found out what the hydrology of the area is like well before starting to dig, and would have been able to avoid the collapse (choosing a contractor a little better would have helped too), but then, from what I have heard, it was a case of playing favorites, something that has no place in such situations.