Asheville city transit drivers are on the verge of striking against their employer, according to a report from Steve Rasmussen, a citizen activist with interests in transit and other local issues. Xpress is investigating; the information is as yet unconfirmed:
The strike would not be against the city, but rather against a bargaining agent, which N.C. law requires governmental units to engage when working with union labor. According to Rasmussen, the city of Asheville contracts for local bus drivers through one of the largest bus companies in the nation, First Transit, Inc., itself a subsidiary of British conglomerate FirstGroup, plc, which also owns Greyhound Bus Lines and First Student, the largest school-bus company in the US.
The strike would be organized by Asheville's transit union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 128, says Rasmussen. The local's leaders are meeting this Sunday, Aug. 22, and the entire membership will be meeting the following Sunday (Aug. 29) to decide whether to call the first transit strike ever held here.
At issue, says Rasmussen: First Transit is forcing Asheville transit workers to work about an hour more each day, while paying them about an hour less.
The strike would not be against the city, but rather against a bargaining agent, which N.C. law requires governmental units to engage when working with union labor. According to Rasmussen, the city of Asheville contracts for local bus drivers through one of the largest bus companies in the nation, First Transit, Inc., itself a subsidiary of British conglomerate FirstGroup, plc, which also owns Greyhound Bus Lines and First Student, the largest school-bus company in the US.
The strike would be organized by Asheville's transit union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 128, says Rasmussen. The local's leaders are meeting this Sunday, Aug. 22, and the entire membership will be meeting the following Sunday (Aug. 29) to decide whether to call the first transit strike ever held here.
At issue, says Rasmussen: First Transit is forcing Asheville transit workers to work about an hour more each day, while paying them about an hour less.
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Labor unions are what's wrong with this country. I don't understand why anybody thinks that they have "your" best interest when they make decisions. Unions are looking out for themselves. It's just another form of slavery.
By West Asheville
08/23/2010
Strike, strike, strike! Yes!
By Thad
08/24/2010
It's not like the XPress to run an unconfirmed report, without having talked to ANY of the ACTUAL parties involved. WWNC news dept had stories yesterday - including interviews with the ACTUAL people involved - saying they expected a deal to be signed with no problem by Sept. Careful XPress... don't get caught up in the 'race to get it first, but risk not getting it right" trend in media today.
By Matt Mittan
08/24/2010
Jeff, your're better than this! Even if this ends up being true it's destructive unless you do your homework.
By Agnes Cheek
08/24/2010
Lol...the irony of Baby Beck Mittan presuming to lecture anyone on journalistic ethics is killing me.
By mule
08/27/2010
Matt, come on! WWNC only talked to one side -- the corporation. Gee, what did you all think First Transit was going to say? That's like taking BP's word that the oil has all disappeared from the Gulf.
Since your story has already scrolled off wwnc.com, here's what I mean:
"First Transit Hopes to Avoid Strike
Asheville's bus drivers are in negotiations with First Transit over a
new contract.
Monday, August 23, 2010
First Transit Area Vice President Bill Harned says the leadership of
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 128 and First Transit had agreed in
principle earlier this month on a new contract. He says the current
contract expires on September 30th. Amalgamated Transit Union Local
128 met last night, but Harned says he doesn't know what resulted from
that meeting."
By *Diuvei
08/27/2010
Sorry, meant to include the original link (now dead): http://www.wwnc.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=122546&article=7510344:
WWNC should take a page from Xpress and keep its content publicly available online, rather than toss it quickly down the memory hole so no one can go back to verify things like false claims of comprehensive coverage.
By *Diuvei
08/27/2010