Bus strike...

[senoritafish]

When I talked to Beth last week, she told me her brother, a mechanic for OCTA, had been told by his union to go to work Saturday, but that was it, unless something happened over the weekend. I was wondering about whether the strike was happening as I hadn't heard any news about it - but then I hadn't been listening to the news either. Beth was incensed that there had been very little news coverage about it, but I told her, "It's Orange County - nobody will actually care until it actually happens."

Well, they did go on strike as of Monday morning. Some of the smaller routes are still running, like the one on the street my office is on, but most of the major routes, like the one I take from home to my transfer point, are out. I know the smaller routes are contracted out to another company, so I don't know if they are affected; but Beth told me OCTA is giving administrative people eight hours of training and sending them out to drive buses. Boy, that sounds safe.

I hope it's resolved soon. I'm lucky enough to have an alternative (although I really dislike John dropping me off and picking me up - it uses twice as much gas as if I drove myself), but there are thousands who don't. I wonder if those managers holding it up are going to refund the half of my bus pass I'm not going to be able to use? Probably not.

Come to think of it, I haven't heard anything concerning another grocery worker strike either...I should probably look something up on that...

Comments

[jedi-bunny.livejournal.com]

Our non-driving bus people (office staff, mechanics, etc) are required to hold a CDL license. The theory is that paperwork can get done later but the buses MUST run.

Why are they striking? Just curious since I have a whole family of transit workers :)

~hop~

[senoritafish.livejournal.com]

The bus drivers are striking for a cost of living increase - that the increase in pay proposed by management does not nearly cover the costs of living in Orange County, where rent for a one bedroom apartment can be over $1000 a month (depending on where in the county you live - they're higher than that in my neighborhood).

Management says "OCTA wants all bus drivers to receive wage increases while the union leaders want wage increases for only 60% of their top wage earners," which doesn't sound quite right either - I'm sure some sort of spin is being put on that statement.

This article (http://www.kfwb.com/pages/661998.php?contentType=4&contentId=674422) says:

The drivers are demanding a 14 percent pay raise over three years, arguing Orange County is one of the most expensive places in the state. Drivers now make between $13.72 to $21.42 an hour. A three-year contract offer of 3 percent pay increases each year was rejected.

One major sticking point has been which drivers will benefit most from proposed wage increases: Labor leaders want to concentrate raises among more senior drivers to reward service; the transportation authority wants to spread the raises more evenly and give a greater portion to those lower on the seniority scale to improve recruiting.

Meantime, there's been some sort of agreement on a media blackout, so there's been no other information than they're still negotiating and it could go on for a long time.

[archaeomom8.livejournal.com]

Hope they do refund your extra money on your pass.

Here in the high desert the grocery workers seem to be gearing up for a strike. Heard it from someone in my adjuncts' union. They are still negotiating, I think. And that's all I know...

[senoritafish.livejournal.com]

Ah well, I'm not holding my breath about the pass. I'm more concerned with my friend. She's on disability and lives with her brother. They only have a limited amount of savings and if it goes on too long, he'll have to look for another job in the meantime. They have guardianship of their grand-niece, who they were hoping to continue to send to private school - that'll be out, too.

Grocery - Sounds like it's the same chains as last time. The last articles I can find are from 6/25 - sounds like they've voted to strike but negotiations are continuing and contracts are being renewed on a day to day basis as long as they are.

[archaeomom8.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry about your friend's situation. That's a tough one to be in and I hope it works out for them.