JTA Bus Drivers to Strike?????

[fsujax]

This may cause some problems.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=163051&catid=3

[uptowngirl]

for three people ...yes

[stjr]

Are rank and file bus drivers overpaid at 38K per year (close to $20/hour) plus nearly $3/hour pension pay  which is 15% of the base pay?  [15% is pretty high compared to the 3% to 6% typically found in private sector 401K's]  Or is it just the JTA execs?  Note the comment in the article about lousy bus drivers and service.  

Here is text of article for easy reference:

Jacksonville bus drivers want pay raise, threaten to strike
Source URL: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-08-12/story/jta-bus-drivers-want-pay-raise-threaten-strike

By Larry Hannan

Despite the down economy, Jacksonville Transportation Authority bus drivers are threatening to strike if they don’t get a pay raise.

JTA officials said the union wants a 17 percent raise over three years. Union officials said they have asked for an 8 percent increase over four years.

But JTA management said Thursday no raises are coming and have presented a take-it-or-leave-it offer to the union that would freeze wages and health insurance benefits at the current pay levels.

Larry Allen, president of Amalgamated Transit Union 1197, said  the 250 union members working for JTA will take a strike vote Sunday and are expected to reject the wage freeze at the same meeting. But, he said, an actual strike is weeks away.

About 10,000 to 12,000 people ride JTA buses every weekday.

“We remain open to working something out,” said Allen. “But JTA is trying to ram their offer down our throats.”

But JTA said the union isn’t dealing with reality. Operations revenue has fallen from $73 million in 2008 to an estimated $55 million in 2010, spokeswoman Wendy Morrow said.

“The JTA believes it has put forward the best possible offer during the most trying economic times since the great depression,” Morrow said.

JTA did not have figures on how much the union’s pay increase requests would cost in total.

The fire and police unions have also been in tense negotiations with the city over new contracts that might result in pay cuts or pay freezes. But Allen said the situations are different.

“Police and fire make a lot more than we do,” he said. “Freezing our salaries hurts us more.”

Allen said the average salary for JTA bus drivers is about $38,000 a year. Fraternal Order of Police President Nelson Cuba said the average police salary is about $47,000.

Health insurance costs increased by 17 percent in the last few years. The union wants an increase to make up for the health care costs, Allen said.

Allen said JTA wants the union to commit to freezing these levels for four years, while JTA claims it would be willing to revisit the issue after one year if the economy gets better.

Allen said the union is asking for an 8 percent pay increase over four years and additional assistance for health insurance during that time that will make up for the increased health care costs.

They are also asking JTA to increase the pension contributions from about $2.62 an hour to about $3.50 an hour, which would bring their numbers in line with what JTA mechanics get, Allen said.

The previous contract negotiated in 2006 gave bus operators a 12 percent pay increase over three years.

JTA gets most of its revenue from sales and gas taxes; gas taxes dropped from $30.4 million to $28.1 million from 2008 to 2009, and sales taxes dropped from $71 million to $64 million during the same time period.

If a strike occurs, JTA officials said they will offer as much bus service as possible. It’s not yet clear what that bus service would be.

“We recognize the importance of transit to the community,” said JTA Executive Director Michael Blaylock, “and how many people rely on our service each and every day to reach their jobs.”

If a strike does occur, the Skyway, community shuttles and transit for the disabled will continue to operate because those drivers work for a different union.

People waiting for a bus at the Rosa Parks Transfer Station downtown were not amused at the possibility of a strike.

“Sometimes, as long as the bus takes, you would think they were already on strike,” said Inga Evans, 55, who was taking a bus to the airport to pick up a friend.

She was noncommittal when asked if the bus drivers deserve a raise.

“Some of them are good but some are nasty to the customers,” Evans said. “They pull off and leave you.”

Greg Brown, 50, said he’d probably lose his job at Midwestern Beef Company if a strike occurred because he doesn’t have a car, and has to walk over a mile to his house after the bus drops him off.

“I couldn’t get to my job unless someone came and picked me up,” he said.  

[acme54321]

They think they should be making more than $38k a year on average?  They're driving busses, not curing cancer.  They should be thankful that they have a job and a pension!

[BridgeTroll]

If the bus drivers strike... perhaps the teachers should too...

[Dog Walker]

If the bus drivers strike... perhaps the teachers should too...

Been there, done that!  1968.  Short term disaster, long term really helped the teachers and the school system.  The parents and others who were brought in to cover the classrooms had their eyes opened and later became some of the strongest advocates for higher pay and reform.

BTW, starting pay for a new teacher in 1968 was $4800 per year.  Cost of VW Beetle was $2200.

[stjr]

Been there, done that!  1968.  Short term disaster, long term really helped the teachers and the school system.  The parents and others who were brought in to cover the classrooms had their eyes opened and later became some of the strongest advocates for higher pay and reform.

BTW, starting pay for a new teacher in 1968 was $4800 per year.  Cost of VW Beetle was $2200.

I remember that teacher's strike.  My parents supported the teachers and felt it was the only way to get politicos and the populace to prioritize long neglected education funding.  Is history repeating itself?  Sadly, yes!

The problem, in part, as I recall, was not all teachers were unified or ballsy enough to use a strike to make their point so it sent a mixed message to those who wanted to make hay out of it but it was necessary and the right thing to do at the time.

[Cliffs_Daughter]

for three people ...yes

Make that 4.
I actually use it more often than not.

[Doctor_K]

The last contract was negotiated in 2006, and calls for a 12 percent pay increase over three years.

That's 4% per year increases.  That's a hell of a lot better than a lot of people get, especially "in this economy."

I wonder over how long a time span is this proposed 17% increase?  Over three years (5.6% per annum)?  Over four (4.25% per)?

How much do they think they're entitled to?  Once you negotiate and are guaranteed a 5% raise, you know you don't have to do anything to earn it.  Which causes service quality to suffer.  And they know that they can't get fired.

Poor idea.   IMO, annual raises should be earned, not guaranteed.

[BridgeTroll]

No doubt... so if anybody has the right or need to strike it would be the teachers...

[duvaldude08]

If anybody goes on strikes it should be the riders. They are the ones that have to deal with rude ghetto bus drivers.

[BridgeTroll]

 

If a bus drives by a bus stop... but no one was there to get on it...

Was there really a bus?  And did it drive by?

[Dog Walker]

If a bus drives by a bus stop... but no one was there to get on it...

Was there really a bus?  And did it drive by?

Jean-Paul just rolled over in his grave!  LOL!

[CS Foltz]

JTA keeps pushing for more concrete............whats wrong with this picture? Ridership has not been increased and have seen no plans to do so! But we have BRT coming.........who will drive the bus?

[exnewsman]

JTA keeps pushing for more concrete............whats wrong with this picture? Ridership has not been increased and have seen no plans to do so! But we have BRT coming.........who will drive the bus?

CS - where are you getting your numbers?  As I understand it - ridership here in Jax is actually up slightly. You have to keep in mind that JTA is now offering new transit modes like the Community Shuttle in addition to the buses and trolleys. I suspect there has been some shift to those vehicles but the numbers are still up. Doesn't really matter what kind of vehicle it is - it still moves people from one p[lace to anther and isn't that really the point.

I think the economy has probably pushed some folks to JTA just as it did when gas prices were at $4/gallon. That kind of fluctuation is very common everywhere in mass transit though.