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PARTA strike targets KSU; Union set to strike on first day of fall classes
August 17, 2008
By Mike Sever
Record-Courier staff writer
The general manager of the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority is assuring that a planned strike by bus drivers will not distrupt classes at Kent State University or other PARTA services.
Drivers have scheduled a strike for 4 a.m. Aug. 25, the first day for fall classes at Kent State.
PARTA's John Drew said "PARTA will continue to provide transportation to citizens of Portage County, whether or not the drivers decide to strike. PARTA has a contingency plan in place to cover for those OAPSE represented employees who choose not to come to work. People who depend on PARTA for their daily transportation needs can be assured that PARTA will get them where they need to go."
PARTA uses KSU students to drive for the student bus services. Those students are not part of the bargaining unit, which includes 24 full-time and about 50 part-time drivers.
After two years of negotiations, drivers and management of the county bus service came to the end of the line last Thursday.
In a statement, PARTA said it declared an impasse in negotiations at Thursday evening's meeting after OAPSE Local 037 rejected the bus service's latest offer, including a lump sum ratification bonus of up to $500 per full-time driver and $250 per part-time driver.
The declaration allows PARTA to put into effect its final offer "so that bargaining unit employees can begin to enjoy the enhanced wages, benefits and other terms proposed by PARTA."
In response, on Friday morning, OAPSE served PARTA with a notice its intent to begin a strike effective at 4 a.m. on Aug. 25.
The two sides had hammered out agreements on all but one issue -- "fair share" payments by nonunion drivers. Fair share would require nonunion drivers to pay fees -- reportedly 2 percent of pay -- to the union.
Trina Molnar, OAPSE field representative, likened the payments to an "association fee." previously.
Molnar said all drivers would be represented by OAPSE and "have the benefit of the negotiations and all the benefits we bargain for them, whether union members or not."
PARTA continues to oppose any contractual provision that would require employees who choose not to join the union to pay a fee to OAPSE.
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