No ECAT Strike…For Now

December 9, 2009

The union that represents local ECAT bus drivers has voted not to strike over missed raises — as long those raises happen next year.

Drivers for Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) voted in November to strike. 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.

Now, the drivers’ union  has voted not to strike, if they get a 4.5 percent raise in October, 2010. The drivers also want to see an improvement in their retirement plan

Comments

2 Responses to “No ECAT Strike…For Now”

  1. SW on December 11th, 2009 12:25 am

    I think the county should get out of this contract with the vendor and either eliminate this service or find another provider.

    It’s funny how these unions work. They’ll drive a company into bankruptcy and then complain how badlly they’ve been treated.

    Gotta love the ‘goon-yun’ mentality. Have we had enough, yet?

  2. Name (required) on December 9th, 2009 9:29 am

    A workman is worthy of his wage.

    Sadly, these unions consistently look for more. Maybe one day this country will see the real and lasting damage done by those who would have ‘a little bit more’.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News