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ECAT Bus Drivers May Strike Over Pay Raise
November 28, 2009
Escambia County public transportation bus drivers may go on strike this week.
Drivers for Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) voted last week to strike as early as this week. The members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1395 are in a labor dispute with Veolia Transportation, the private company that runs ECAT for the county.
The issue is a 4.54 percent pay raise that the transportation union says is guaranteed in their contracts. But Escambia County won’t pony up the $225,000 citing a lack of funds.
The bus drivers voluntarily agreed in 2007 to skip raises on the promise of the 4.5 percent pay increase this year.
The union will meet Tuesday to decide what date they might start their strike. Government employees are forbidden to strike in Florida, but since the bus drivers are employees of Veolia, a private company, they are allowed to strike.
ECAT runs one route in North Escambia, with six-day a week bus service to and from Pensacola, Cantonment, Molino and Century.
Comments
13 Responses to “ECAT Bus Drivers May Strike Over Pay Raise”
I recently started riding the bus because my car stopped. I was outraged that it’s $1.75 a ride, but whatever, I gotta pay it. I catch the bus to and from work. This morning I woke up to my girlfriend calling and telling me that the busdrivers have gone on strike. OMG, that’s how I get to work. I agree, they deserve a raise. If you’ve ever rode on a bus, you will understand why. However, I need the buses back and running as soon as possible!! It’s my transportation. For those that say, we don’t need them anyway, who are you thinking of. You must only be thinking of yourself. There are thousands of Pensacolians that ride those buses every day. We pay good money to take those rides; the bus is dependable, and I don’t have to ask anyone to pick me up and drop me off anywhere. Walk a day in the shoes of a bus rider and you’ll understand why the buses are in great demand!!
Do any of you actually use public transportation or rely on it? If not, then your comments are very null and void… In regards to passengers, not the drivers.
The Unions have lost their clout. See what they have done for GM,Chrysler,the steel industry. I could go on and on but if they want to strike ,let them, with this economy as it is they can be replaced overnite probably with a far more outstanding person.
I pay right at 100 dolars a week in gas to go and come from wrk what do these people pay sounds to me like they are getting the better end of the deal.
LET THEM STRIKE!!!
I say lets give them a raise when the bus service starts to make money. But as soon as we (The County) give them a raise we the tax payer will be ask to help fund the non money making venture. I think the people that ride the bus need to pay more for each ride and this would fund them a pay. Jjust raise the bus rates. Makes sense to me. I DON”T RIDE SO I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT The middle class can’t pay for every Gov. hand out that comes along
did the guy on tv happen to tell you about reading the fine lines on the contract that said if the money was not there that they would not get a raise??? NO!!!
My social security will not get a raise this year even though they are behind the times I guess Obama needs it for his Steak dinners and beer in the backyard.
I know lots of people who would take the jobs without a raise let them strike and then replace them all.
The drivers may get just what they don’t want… out of work. So go ahead and roll the dice with a strike.
I have seen many almost empty ECAT buses “whizzing” through Molino on Hwy. 95A. I have often wondered WHERE the bus stop was up here in the north end. Anybody know? Do you stand by the road? I have never seen a sign. I do NOT use the public transportation system, and I feel that it is a WASTE. I work and I pay for a vehicle….Don’t tax my gas to pay for this please.
So you drive around all day and do nothing and go on strike? ha! have at it! They should be lucky they even have jobs
easy to carpool if you have acar most people doesnot have cars so public transportation is the next best thing .but if the bus drivers strike they can always be replaced
Well put bama. They are not the only people going without raises,many without jobs. It would be a good time to do away with the current mess and start over.
let them strike!! It will prove we don’t need them as much as they think we do. Most of us in the Escambia county thinks it is a waste of money anyway. Carpool would be a good answer to a strike. I say stike boys and see how much you’re really missed!!! What is the head county for this route (2-5 going and 2-5 coming back?)?