12/09/2007 10:52AM
Paratransit Workers Threaten To Strike Over Contract Dispute
By: NY1 News
Access-a-Ride vehicles may be off the street Monday, as workers are threatening to walk off the job at 3 a.m. NY1's Lindley Pless filed the following report.
In the wake of the taxi strike, the stage hands strike, and the ongoing writers strike, on Sunday another group was getting ready to take its grievances to the streets.
“Access-a-Ride workers are preparing to go out on strike. That's not good for the workers. That's not good for unions. That's not good for the people who use these services,” said Brooklyn City Councilman Charles Barron.
For months, worker with four of the 14 companies which handle paratransit services for thousands of disabled New Yorkers have been talking about walking off the job.
With Monday morning's deadline looming, local lawmakers hit the steps of City Hall to support the workers and ask for both sides to resume negotiations.
“We need everybody to get their heads together, understand the deep impact this will have all across the city of New York, come back to the negotiating table and come up with something that is fair and workable,” said Queens City Councilman John Liu.
But for now, the chief negotiator for the NYC Paratransit Operators says his side was done talking two weeks ago after making its latest offer.
From our perspective. It is a very generous offer we have a 8.9 percent increase each year of the contract for the employees,” said Jeff Pollack. “We have a longevity bonus. We have only a slight increase in health insurance contributions, and it is significant to note that there has not been any increase for over ten years in employee contributions.”
Michael Harris of the Disabled Riders Coalition says he and many in the disabled community are begging for a five-day cooling off period so the 60,000 people who use Access-a-Ride each day won't be left in the cold this holiday season.
“As we approach the holiday season, we do not want coal in our stocking,” said Harris. “We do not want for these providers to be the Grinch that stole the holidays from the disabled.”
The drivers for Atlantic Paratrans, one of four companies invovled, say they are torn. Atlantic, Maggies Paratransit, Mv Transportation, and Transit Facility Management Corporation provide 50 percent of the daily paratransit service.
Tony Brown says they don't want to hurt the disabled community, but they have to fight for what they think is fair.
“I hope it is over with real soon,” he said. “That’s what I hope.”
- Lindley Pless
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Wheelchair Van Drivers Strike
at 4 Transportation Companies
By BRUCE LAMBERT
Published: December 10, 2007
Drivers went on strike today at four companies that provide van rides for up to 9,000 passengers a day across New York City.
The companies serve half the passengers in the Access-a-Ride program for the elderly, sick and disabled who are unable to use mass transit. Others are served by 10 other companies that were not expected to walk out.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority, which hires the van companies, said it would try to fill the gap by using nonstriking companies, ambulettes and taxicab vouchers. The first priority would be rides needed for medical appointments.
The union, the Amalgamated Transport Union Local 1181 whose 1,500 members twice rejected a tentative settlement that their leaders had recommended and called for the strike, assigned picket captains.
No last-minute talks were held before the strike was called at 12:01 a.m., according to the chief negotiator for the companies, Jeffrey Pollack. The four companies — Atlantic Paratrans, Maggie’s Paratransit, MV Transportation and Transit Facility Management — had made their final offer, he said. Their proposal included raises and improved benefits, said Mr. Pollack.
No one answered the phone at the union’s headquarters, The Associated Press quoted Tommy Mullins, a union vice president, as saying that the owners “have deliberately brought us to the picket line" by refusing to negotiate.
The strike preparations came against a background of division within the union, which has been under investigation for corruption.
Members for Change, a group opposing the current leaders, campaigned against the proposed settlement. But an organizer for the group, Eddie Kay, said that they opposed a strike because the leaders had not prepared to make it succeed.
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Health Payments Key Issue
Paratransit Strike in 2nd Week
December 21, 2007
By ARI PAUL
Drivers for Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Paratransit, which provides transport for the disabled and elderly, went on strike Dec. 10, demanding higher wages without increases in employee contributions for health-care premiums.
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The four companies affected are Maggie's Paratransit Corporation, Atlantic, MV Transportation and the Transit Facility Management Corporation. Access-A-Ride was still operating. Service to clients in the paratransit system has been off by more than 30 percent.
'Passengers Back Us'
"The passengers, they support us 100 percent," said Alex Santos, a striking Maggie's Paratransit driver, adding that customers knew since September that there was the likelihood of a strike. "There's probably only a few that don't."
The union and the companies had previously reached a tentative contract but it was rejected by the 1,500-member bargaining unit in two separate votes.
Since 1997 the drivers had paid $15 per week, 40 weeks per year, in health-care premiums, said Jeff Pollack, management's chief negotiator. That would increase to $20 per week, 52 weeks per year, starting in 2009 under management's proposal, and jump to $25 weekly in 2011.
He said that management offered workers bonuses and increases in a 401(k) plan.
"It's always two issues: wages and health care," Mr. Pollack said. "In this particular case, I believe health care is the driving one here."
Management representatives insisted that they have offered all they can to the workers and will not consider making any more monetary concessions. While the companies contract with the MTA, the workers are considered private-sector employees and are not barred from striking under the state's Taylor Law.
Diane Williams, a driver with MV Paratransit, said that workers did not want to strike but believed they had to in order to secure a living wage. She also complained that the union's leadership did not inform workers how to handle the strike. Local 1181 held an informational meeting about the work stoppage two days before workers walked off the job.
A statement from New York City Transit Dec. 13 said, "Paratransit providers were able to accept reservations for approximately 68 percent of the trips requested on a normal Thursday. While a normal Thursday sees in excess of 18,500 trips, today Access-A-Ride booked 12,216 trips."
Strikers' 'Heavy Heart'
Local 1181 Trustee Tommy Mullins said while the strike was justified, the workers sympathized with the inconvenienced riders.
"We made this decision with a very heavy heart," said Mr. Mullins. "They are very compassionate about the customers that they transport, but they have to look out for their own families."
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Wheelchair Van Operators
End Strike
By SEWELL CHAN
Published: December 20, 2007
A 10-day strike that inconvenienced about 9,000 wheelchair users and other people with disabilities who depend on Access-a-Ride, a government-financed van service, ended on Wednesday when members of Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union voted to ratify a contract settlement.
About 1,500 drivers and mechanics began their strike on Dec. 10, shutting down operations at Atlantic Paratrans, Maggie’s Paratransit, MV Transportation and Transit Facility Management. The companies operate about half of the approximately 20,500 rides provided on an average weekday under the paratransit program, which runs door-to-door van service for eligible residents. The companies will resume taking reservations on Thursday.
Fifty-three percent of union members who voted accepted the settlement offer.
The union said the settlement addressed the issues that were in dispute: wages, health care and the duration of the contract.
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Pay, Health Premiums Rise
Contract Deal Ends Paratransit Strike
December 28, 2007
By ARI PAUL
Drivers and mechanics for Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Paratransit, which provides transport for the disabled and elderly, ended their 10-day strike and went back to work Dec. 19 after narrowly accepting a contract reached by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 and the four companies involved.
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'Thrilled to Go Back'
"The voice of the union has spoken and has accepted the proposed contract," said ATU Vice President and Local 1181 Trustee Tommy Mullins in a statement. "We are thrilled to be able to return to our daily rounds serving the disabled and elderly who were inconvenienced for these ten days during cold and inclement weather. Our members fought vigorously to secure a more equitable basis from which they can support their family with fair wages and health benefits throughout the year, not just during a cold week in December."
The 1,500 members cast their votes at an American Legion post in the Broad Channel section of Queens. The contract was ratified with 53 percent of the vote. Management and the union reached a tentative settlement Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m.
The contract, which expires on Aug. 31, 2011, will raise employee contributions for health premiums from $15 to $25 for a single plan and from $59 to $70 for a family plan starting Sept. 1, 2009.
According to union documents obtained by THE CHIEF-LEADER, for workers hired between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, starting pay will increase by 9 percent, from the old $11.02 to $12 per hour after three months and to $13.46 on the anniversary date of hire between Sept. 1, 2008 and Aug. 31, 2009. It would increase to $15.41 on the anniversary date between Sept. 1, 2009 and Aug. 31, 2010. On the anniversary date between Sept. 1, 2010 and Aug. 31, 2011, it would increase to $16.29.
The union issued a statement saying that, "all members will achieve the top pay rate of $20.05 in the last year of the contract, 2011. For members currently in the top tier that represents an increase of $6.01 over four years."
Drivers will receive a night differential of 25 cents per hour for working between 12 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Management will match employee contributions for the 401(k) plan up to a maximum of $1,040 per year starting Sept. 1, 2010.
Insurance Boost
The statement said, "Life insurance has been increased in two steps from the current benefit of $15,000 to $20,000 and $25,000.
Workers now have four personal days, up from two.
"The contract achieved significant goals for all of our members in terms of compensation, health care and the length of the contract," Mr. Mullins said.
The strike, which began Dec. 10, affected Maggie's Paratransit Corporation, Atlantic, MV Transportation and the Transit Facility Management Corporation. Service to clients in the Paratransit system had been off by more than 30 percent. While the companies contract with the MTA, the workers are considered private-sector employees and were not barred from striking under the state's Taylor Law.
Unhappiness Lingers
Members rejected an earlier contract settlement before the strike. They said the health contributions were too high, while management insisted that its offer was the best it could afford.
Trevor Simpson, a driver with Transit Facility Management, voted against last week's settlement.
"They haven't increased anything," he said. "A lot of guys are not pleased with this contract." Moses Williams, a driver with MV, also voted "no" because it was similar to the contract members initially rejected, but believed many of his fellow workers voted in favor of the contract because they did not want to walk the picket lines any longer.
"They were tired of the strike," he said. "We had some cold days. It was to the point people were staying in their cars."
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