[Ohio-talk] Article from the Cincinnati Enquirer about possible ACCESS strike (concerning Cincinnati Paratransit System)

Thu May 17 17:56:46 UTC 2018

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.

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2018/05/16/access-bus-drivers-done-fo
oling-around-threaten-strike/614979002/

Access bus drivers' "done fooling around, '' threaten strike

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'We're done fooling around:' Union leaders say bus drivers for disabled will
strike if they can't reach new contract terms

Randy Tucker,

rtucker at enquirer.comPublished 3:22 p.m. ET May 16, 2018 | Updated 5:30 p.m.
ET May 16, 2018

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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.

A walkout would impact thousands of disabled riders in Greater Cincinnati
who use the Access service for people whose disabilities prevent them from
riding

Metro buses.

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

benefits in their current contract with Dallas-based MV Transportation Inc.

Starting wages for Access drivers are $15 an hour.

"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

Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) board Tuesday.

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,

which expires in February 2020, regardless of the outcome of the labor
negotiations.

Last year, 54 Access vehicles delivered 228,000 rides to about 2,700
disabled riders who qualify based on the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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

three-month contract extension.

There won't be another extension, Miller said: "We're done fooling around.''

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.

"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.

Miller implored SORTA members to intervene in contract talks between MV and
Local 627, which resumed Wednesday with the help of a federal mediator.

"I encourage you guys to say something to them to say this (new contract)
needs to happen,'' Miller told the board.

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