UPDATE: Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato participated in "very productive" contract negotiations with representatives of the Amalgamated Transit Union and the Port Authority. Mr. Onorato is lobbying Allegheny County Council to enact a 10 percent tax on poured alcoholic drinks and a $2-a-day tax on car rentals to provide the county's $30 million Port Authority subsidy. But even if council approves the taxes, Mr. Onorato said he will not release the money -- used to match millions more in state funds -- unless the union agrees to concessions.Mr. Onorato said he explained to union leaders that he won't be able to attend all negotiating sessions, but his representatives at the talks can speak for him.
Original post:
The PAT union is not happy. Yes, Local 85, Amalgamated Transit Union is frowning. The cash they thought was headed their way is being held by Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato. I applaud him for that.
Mr. Onorato signed an executive order restricting any new county funds from going to the authority until its labor unions make certain concessions. The Port Authority's current three-year contract with Local 85 will expire in June.
Mr. Onorato has said he wants Local 85 to accept concessions similar to those that the authority's management and nonunion employees agreed to in March, including changes in retirement age and health care.. Otherwise, he will withhold the county's $30 million subsidy to the authority.
It about time the union wakes up and understands that if they don't start living in the real world transit will go private. They need to learn how to operate on transit profits, not tax subsidies.
The county money has a direct impact on the ability for PAT to leverage state funds. If the county won't spend the money, the state may follow.
Why am I not siding with the union? Well, the Port Authority's union contract with bus-trolley hourly workers provides the most generous retiree health-care benefits when compared to a number of other public sector contracts, according to a the Pennsylvania Economy League of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
The study shows wages paid to members of Local 85, Amalgamated Transit Union, are the highest of any transit system in the U.S. when adjust for the cost of living in the region.
I've said this over and over... Mass transit does not work in this region. It's bleeds money and union greed does not to create much sympathy.
4 comments:
does this mean that there will be the possibility for a strike in June? Horrors!
YES! If the union is not willing to cut back on a few things I think we will see a strike. Let's see how much they get done in the next 7 months. My guess is nothing.
I think that it should be illegal for Port authority workers to strike. It creates havoc on the roads, makes it dangerous to get paramedics, and other emergency vehicles to their destination during peak rush hours.
Dan Onorato is one democratic I'd vote for. He has ideas and implements them. He has a backbone and - gasp - he uses it! Go Dan!
As for a strick - weren't unions originally for the protection (physically) of workers? I think coal miners are a wonderful example of a needed union! Keep them safe! Teachers, bus drivers, Giant Eagle baggers........give me a break!
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