MAY 6, 2011:NWLP
5/3/11
9:55 AM
Page 12
Transit Union dispute with TriMet may not settle until spring 2012
A labor dispute between Amalga-
mated Transit Union (ATU) Local 757
and TriMet may not get settled until
spring of 2012, if not later.
The union contract at TriMet —
which covers 2,000 bus and rail opera-
tors, mechanics, and support staff —
expired Nov. 30, 2009. After bargain-
ing over a required 150-day time pe-
riod, an impasse was declared in July
2010. Under Oregon law, transit work-
ers are prohibited from striking, and
any contract dispute must be settled
through binding arbitration. However,
when the sides submitted their “last,
best and final” offers to the arbitrator,
TriMet’s proposal contained issues that
the union alleges were never raised at
the bargaining table. Local 757 filed an
unfair labor practice (ULP) complaint
with the Oregon Employment Rela-
tions Board accusing TriMet of bad-
faith bargaining.
A few months later the union filed a
second ULP, this time charging TriMet
with retaliation. The union alleges the
transit agency unilaterally implemented
new conditions to the extended contract
in retaliation for the union filing the
first ULP. The new conditions, effective
Jan. 1, 2011, suspended all bargaining
unit cost-of-living wage increases and
began charging active and retired em-
ployees for a portion of their health in-
surance premiums. Under the extended
agreement, TriMet paid all premiums.
The Oregon Employment Relations
Board will hear the retaliation com-
plaint May 16-17, followed by the bad-
faith bargaining complaint May 18.
A decision on the retaliation charge
could take up to six months, Jon Hunt,
president of ATU Local 757, told
TriMet’s Executive Board at its
Your Vote Counts
May 17, 2011
monthly meeting April 27.
A final ruling on the bad-faith bar-
gaining charge will be issued no later
than mid-August, Hunt said.
Either party can appeal the outcome,
causing further delays.
“Absent any appeals, it is logical to
assume that the interest arbitrator’s de-
cision will come no earlier than March
2012,” said Hunt, noting that the longer
the dispute continues, the more it could
cost if TriMet loses.
“As we have said all along, this dis-
pute can be resolved. We’re willing to
sit down, meet and negotiate.”
At presstime, no talks are scheduled.
Plumbers and Fitters Local 290
ratifies new three-year contract
Members of United Association of
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 290 rat-
ified a new three-year contract with the
Oregon chapter of the Plumbing and
Mechanical Contractors Association.
The deal provides for increases of
$1.75 the first year, $2 the second year,
and $2.25 the third year. As is typical
in construction bargaining, a certain
amount of money is agreed upon and
workers decide how to divvy it up —
whether it be in wages, pension contri-
butions, or for health insurance.
At the ratification vote April 23,
members decided to put 69 cents to-
ward health and welfare, 6 cents to the
pension, and $1 on the check.
This was the third contract vote since
the previous two-year agreement ex-
pired March 31. The first offer rejected
contained hourly increases of 75 cents
the first year, $1 the second year, and
$1.25 the third year. Employers came
back with a quarter more the first year
only. Members rejected that as well —
but this time with strike authorization
and refusing to work overtime.
Then, starting April 7, the union de-
ployed roving pickets, hitting shops in
McMinnville, Eugene, and Portland for
two and three days at a time.
“That really got their attention,” said
Local 290 Business Manager John En-
dicott.
Before the month was over the sides
were back at the table and a contract
was ratified.
“With work finally starting to pick
up, we’re glad to have it settled,” Endi-
cott said. “We look forward to a pro-
ductive next three years.”
ATU Local 757 stages an infor-
mational picket before every TriMet
board meeting to call attention to the
dispute and demand a return to the
bargaining table. The last picket was
held April 27 at the downtown
Portland Building.
Northwest Oregon Labor Council
recommends the following
candidates and measures
CHUCK RILEY
PCC Board of Directors, Zone 7
Maggie Brister-Mashia
Portland School Board, Zone 2
Michael Smith
Reynolds School Board, Zone 7
Mike Delman
Multnomah Education Service District, Pos. 6, At-Large
Portland Public School District
Bond Measure 26-121
Portland Public School District
Local Option, Measure 26-122
Paid for and authorized by Northwest Oregon Labor Council, 1125 SE Madison, #100-D, Portland, OR
PAGE 12
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
MAY 6, 2011