MTS to Suggest Spending $1M to Restore Companies Affected by Contractor Dispute with Teamsters

As a piece stoppage continues for a number of bus divisions of the Metropolitan Transit System, there’s now a $1 million proposal to get buses again on the highway.

Quite a few MTS bus routes out of South Bay and East County divisions, in addition to minibus and paratransit, have been working on restricted service for weeks, MTS Board Chair Stephen Whitburn mentioned in a press release Thursday.

To handle the stalled negotiations between MTS contractor Transdev and the Teamsters, Whitburn referred to as for an merchandise to be added to the board’s June 15 agenda to supply a further $1 million in funding for the present contract. Service, although, have to be restored no later than June 23.

“Whereas MTS shouldn’t be a part of the negotiations, we all know this deadlock is inflicting an incredible inconvenience to our riders that depend on these companies to get to jobs, college, well being appointments and a lot extra,” he mentioned. “Our number-one aim at MTS is to get service up and working once more, and again to the requirements anticipated by our riders.”

That $1 million is along with the $21 million in new funding that the MTS board approved in January for a $2/hour wage enhance paid to all bus operators employed by Transdev on the East County and South Bay divisions via June 30, 2031.

“We acknowledge the rising problem to rent and retain bus operators,” Whitburn mentioned. “It’s a excessive value of residing in San Diego, and a job market that has seen unprecedented wage will increase. This has made attracting new and retaining present bus operators extraordinarily tough. However we have to discover a decision from either side of the negotiating desk. Our riders rely upon it.”

Transdev, a multinational conglomerate, has been in contract negotiations with its bus operators, represented by the Teamsters, since October 2022. The work stoppage has been ongoing for a number of weeks, with greater than 600 drivers affected.

Jose Puga, vp of native Teamsters 683, criticized the corporate’s strategy to negotiations.

“Staff are on strike as a result of they need sanitary loos and protected locations to take breaks, and Transdev has refused to cut price in good religion to handle these situations,” he mentioned. “Staff have been topic to those grotesque situations for longer than the six months we had been in negotiations. We’re on strike as a result of Transdev has refused to supply employees a good new contract and has failed to handle these appalling situations.”

Transdev launched a press release rebutting the claims of union leaders.

“Transdev is actively negotiating with the Teamsters 683 and stays hopeful that we are going to come to an amicable decision quickly with minimal disruption to the using public,” the assertion reads. “We now have been engaged in negotiations with the union in good religion, with the aim of reaching a mutually passable settlement that addresses the pursuits of each events.

The MTS web site is monitoring affected bus routes out of the South Bay and East County divisions and for the minibuses for riders.

Passengers could contact MTS Data & Journey Planning for help at 619-233-3004. MTS Entry riders can name 888-517-9627 for beneficial options.

The Imperial Avenue Division, Kearny Mesa Division and Trolley System are all working regular service, MTS mentioned.

– Metropolis Information Service

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