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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello all. This might be critical information for a lot of us. This is just a FYI at this point, as I’m not sure if the Cincinnati Chapter or the Ohio Affiliate can necessarily be involved. ACCESS is Cincinnati’s Paratransit System.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2018/05/16/access-bus-drivers-done-fooling-around-threaten-strike/614979002/">https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2018/05/16/access-bus-drivers-done-fooling-around-threaten-strike/614979002/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Access bus drivers' "done fooling around, '' threaten strike<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>banner<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cincinnati.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>form<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>SUBSCRIBE NOW$0.99/1st month<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>form end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>navigation region<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list of 16 items<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cincinnati.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>HOME<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NEWS<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>SPORTS<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>BUSINESS<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>THINGS TO DO<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NKY<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>OBITUARIES<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>JOBS<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>XTRAS<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>USA TODAY<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>ARCHIVES<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>SUBSCRIBE<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>MORE<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>SEARCH<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>FIREFLY<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>navigation region end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>banner end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>article<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>#<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>intent/tweet<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>shareArticle<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>'We're done fooling around:' Union leaders say bus drivers for disabled will strike if they can't reach new contract terms<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Randy Tucker,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>rtucker@enquirer.comPublished 3:22 p.m. ET May 16, 2018 | Updated 5:30 p.m. ET May 16, 2018<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>main region<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>complementary information<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>CINCpt_11-21-2016_Enquirer_1_A015~~2016~11~20~IMG_CINCpt_06-30-2016_En_1_1_P<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Buy Photo<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(Photo: The Enquirer/Liz Dufour)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>complementary information end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>CONNECT<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>TWEET<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>LINKEDIN<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>COMMENTEMAILMORE<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bus drivers who provide transit service for the disabled are threatening to strike at the end of the month if they can't reach new contract terms.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A walkout would impact thousands of disabled riders in Greater Cincinnati who use the Access service for people whose disabilities prevent them from riding<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Metro buses.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Troy Miller - head of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 62, which represents about 90 Access drivers - said his members are unhappy with the wages and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>benefits in their current contract with Dallas-based MV Transportation Inc.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Starting wages for Access drivers are $15 an hour.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"If we don't get a new contract soon, there's a pretty good chance we'll be on strike. We're at that point now,'' Miller told members of the Southwest<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) board Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>SORTA hired MV to provide bus service for disabled riders to supplement the Metro bus system. And the agency has said it expects MV to fulfill its contract,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>which expires in February 2020, regardless of the outcome of the labor negotiations.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Last year, 54 Access vehicles delivered 228,000 rides to about 2,700 disabled riders who qualify based on the Americans with Disabilities Act.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>MV's contract with about 90 Access drivers and other employees expires May 31, according to Miller, who said his members are currently working under a<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>three-month contract extension.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There won't be another extension, Miller said: "We're done fooling around.''<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>An MV spokesman said the company "would get creative'' and fill positions with replacement workers if they could not come to terms with Access drivers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"We would ensure that our passengers are able to get to where they need to be,'' said Jeff Womack, vice president of communications for MV.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miller implored SORTA members to intervene in contract talks between MV and Local 627, which resumed Wednesday with the help of a federal mediator.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"I encourage you guys to say something to them to say this (new contract) needs to happen,'' Miller told the board.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>form<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Join now<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>99¢ First Month<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Subscribe Now<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>form end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>CONNECT<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>TWEET<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>LINKEDIN<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>COMMENTEMAILMORE<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>main region end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>complementary information<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Share your feedback<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> to help improve our site experience! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>FROM THE USA TODAY NETWORK <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>These sites are part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Their content is produced independently from our newsrooms. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>MORE STORIES <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list of 6 items<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marijuana program grader tossed personal notes<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>May 15, 2018, 5:23 p.m. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Judge could slow medical marijuana in Ohio<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>May 14, 2018, 10:13 a.m. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Report: Convergys in talks with buyers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>May 11, 2018, 3:39 p.m. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Wow Air takes off<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>May 11, 2018, 10:47 a.m. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Businesses demand action on stalled Downtown site<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>May 8, 2018, 3:37 p.m. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Will more foreign CVG flights follow Wow Air?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>May 8, 2018, 8:09 p.m. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>complementary information end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>article end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>616945002<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>619374002<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>form<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>creatives/01c3872ffb6be982ce26e9a07088d03f<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>99¢ for the First Month<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>creatives/3f1041b35a41fef254b1d6dc721066a8<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Spring Sale On Now<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Subscribe Today<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>form end<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>