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Dear Transit Rider
Below you will find a chart that clearly describes the original proposals for a contract agreement between Port Authority and ATU Local 85 that were presented by the Authority and Local 85. The third column of the chart compares the Fact Finder’s recommendations to those proposals.
On Friday, September 12, 2008, the Port Authority Board of Directors voted to accept the Fact Finder’s report, even though the report was not a silver bullet that solved all of Port Authority’s financial issues. However, the report did address Port Authority’s legacy costs, which was our main goal in contract negotiations.
Unfortunately and of great disappointment to us, the union did not see fit to accept Fact Finder Jane Rigler’s report that we firmly believe is in the best interest of our employees, transit riders and taxpayers. We are somewhat at a loss as to why the union would reject a report that so greatly benefits union employees by protecting their wages and providing them with excellent benefits.
Ms. Rigler, a neutral third-party, expended much effort to carefully and thoughtfully consider the positions of both the union and the Port Authority, and she presented a report that is fair to our employees, transit riders and taxpayers.
Ms. Rigler states in her Fact Finding report: “Throughout the fact-finding process it has been made plain to the bargaining representatives of the Authority and the Union that their respective constituencies must be prepared to live with recommendations considerably less attractive than what each would like.” She further states that: “Implementation of the report’s recommendations will result in a restructuring of the Port Authority’s costs for its Local 85-represented employees in a manner similar to the March 2007 restructuring for non-represented employees. In addition, the recommendations will permit the Authority to reduce its legacy costs. Local 85-represented employees will, by virtue of the report’s recommendations, see their wages increase while, at the same time, continuing to enjoy an enviable benefits package.”
Unfortunately, because the union leadership rejected the Fact Finder’s report, we are now back to square one with negotiations and all the recommendations in the report are thrown out.
Regardless of the outcome of this collective bargaining process, it remains vital for Port Authority to continue to focus on accomplishing the service efficiencies and cost savings that will result from the Transit Development Plan and Smart Card initiatives.
We will keep you updated on the progress of our contract negotiations with ATU Local 85. Although we are hopeful that Local 85 will not inflict a strike on the citizens of Allegheny County, we will keep you apprised of all important information if the union threatens a work stoppage.
Comparison of Major Collective Bargaining Provisions
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