Bus drivers, management continue talks

Tuesday, May 14, 2002 | 11:02 a.m.

The counteroffer from Amalgamated Transit Union local 1637:

The buses pulled in and out, passengers waited patiently for their rides or sought frantically for the right route, and drivers smoked cigarettes before getting behind the wheel.

Monday was a typical day at the Downtown Transportation Center. But many of the passengers and drivers were thinking about what they will do if a threatened strike interrupts the Citizens Area Transit system.

Today, at least, the buses will continue to operate. A marathon, 12-hour negotiating session Monday led to more talks today between the bus drivers' union and the management company for the system, ATC.

But some drivers said privately Monday that they believe there will be a strike -- and a few said the time for a strike is overdue.

"Let's shut this town down," one frustrated driver said. The driver, who like others feared reprisals if his name were revealed, predicted that the system would devolve into chaos without the regular trained drivers behind the wheels.

ATC, which operates public bus systems nationwide, has promised to bring in replacement workers and keep the Clark County bus system operating if there's a strike.

Nicole Workman, waiting for a bus to take her home to Henderson, said she supports the drivers. But Workman, who works in downtown Las Vegas, said she would probably have to cross a picket line to ride the bus.

"I would hate to have to do it, but I wouldn't have a choice," said Workman, who rides the CAT buses five or six days a week. "I'm not going to be able to not ride the bus."

Toni Smith, who travels daily to classes at the Academy of Medical Careers, also depends on the bus system. Smith said she will have to cross picket lines if there is a strike.

Smith said she has had mixed experiences with the drivers. Some are rude and hostile to their passengers, she said.

"But most of them are friendly," Smith said. She said she understands why beginning drivers are seeking a few dollars more in the negotiations.

Beginning drivers make about $11 an hour.

"I don't think it's enough for some of the stuff they have to deal with," Smith's friend Ebani Pounds agreed.

Although Amalgamated Transit Union local members have authorized a strike and rejected the ATC contract offer, not all the drivers back the union.

"I think the union has totally jacked us up," one driver said while in his bus at the transportation center. He said the union should have started talks with the management company earlier.

Although the driver seemed to support the company, the driver's comments were quickly cut off by a ATC manager who insisted he could not talk to the press.

Talks between the company and the union are scheduled to start again at 2 p.m., federal mediator David Martinez said.

"They're working. They're at the table," Martinez said early this morning. "That's always positive from our perspective."

ATC delivered what managers characterized as a final offer two weeks ago.

But the union this week has offered a substantially different contract. The contract would be good for two years, three years shorter than the ATC offer.

Pay raises would be 7 percent across the board, compared to 15 to 40 percent offered by ATC -- but spread out over more than twice the time.

The union offer also asks for holiday pay and rejects splitting health insurance costs, two contentious points in the company version.

Frank Opdyke, president of Amalgamated Transit Union local 1637, said the shorter duration of the contract gives the company more flexibility to respond to a changing economic environment.

Company officials said they are listening to the union proposal.

Val Michael, ATC spokeswoman, said the fact that talks are continuing is good news for passengers dependent on the system.