LYNX Stickin’ It to Drivers, Mechanics

With just about 15 minutes into the meeting, negotiations between LYNX management and representatives of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) broke down Tuesday, after the two sides failed to reach agreement on a new wage contract.

Although LYNX administrative and hourly wage workers have not received a wage increase in three years, General Manager Edward Johnson put on the table a lumpsum offer of $200 across the board, plus a half percent wage increase.  Johnson also said the offer did not include a wage progression, which was in place for several years, but there would be a wage opening, and both sides could return to the bargaining table after the first year.

But Gary Rauen, International Vice President of ATU leading the negotiations on behalf of the group said, the draft proposal was not clear.

“If your intent is to freeze progression for one year, that’s what the proposal should say and it doesn’t say that,” Rauen declared. “…And I want to make it crystal clear, it (progression) will go back into this collective bargaining agreement, before we start. I am not going to move forward with negotiations until this matter is clarified.”

Johnson seemed determined to dig in, telling the ATU representatives he would entertain a counterproposal in writing, but that a wage increase was on the table and that there are “folks who deserve a wage increase.”

Johnson’s reference to the wage increase which boiled down to about 0.5 cents per hour was enough to make Rauen lose his cool, who enquired whether the proposal had come from the Board of Directors or Johnson himself.

“You have absolutely discredited LYNX as an employer of this community, by this proposal,” said a clearly angry Rauen. “You have taken away everything they have bargained for over the last 50 years and tried to get a give back. On every proposal. You have not taken into account the three years of these people maintaining the service on the streets.”

Rauen added that, about half of the hourly workers made $13 bucks and a half percent wage increase amounted to about five cents. He said the offer was not acceptable, and reminded the meeting that it wasn’t about wages.

“You have put a proposal on the table after three years, but it’s not about wages,” he said. “Everyone of the bargaining unit employees have done their penance. They have gone three years without a wage increase. With a lumpsum of $200, after taxes they will get $140, which will all go to paying bills immediately.”

The matter of “cheaper” health care also sparked a sharp response from Rauen, who accused Johnson of not telling LYNX workers they would pay higher co-payments, more for prescription drugs and higher deductibles under their new health care insurance plan.

“You gave a sub-standard health insurance policy at a cheaper cost to LYNX,” Rauen charged.  Johnson refuted the claim, saying it was not true.

The negotiations ended abruptly after Rauen challenged Johnson to cut services, by laying off drivers and mechanics, but not before insisting wage progression be put back into the proposal.

“If you need these kinds of cut backs, if you need this to come off of the employees’ backs to maintain service, cut service, lay off drivers, lay off mechanics,” he said. “I am challenging you to do that. We will go to this community and tell them what you have done.  This is unacceptable.”

Put wage progression back on the table… it’s going back, or we are done, Rauen added.