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Port Authority, 3 Unions Start Fact-Finding

Posted on: Tuesday, 23 August 2005, 00:00 CDT

Aug. 20--Port Authority negotiators and three smaller union groups, unable to agree upon new contracts, have entered into a 45-day fact-finding period under the supervision of the state Labor Relations Board.

The clock started ticking today for the authority and the bargaining unit of Local 85, Amalgamated Transit Union, that represents 187 first-line supervisors, and for two separate bargaining units of the Port Authority Transit Police Association, one that represents 36 patrol officers, and one that represents seven sergeants and lieutenants. All three contracts expired July 31.

The Labor Relations Board has named Robert Gifford, a lawyer from State College, as the neutral fact-finder for all three groups.

Gifford is serving in the same role in the contract dispute between the authority and ATU Local 85's main bargaining union that represents 2,400 bus-trolley drivers, maintenance personnel and other hourly employees whose contract expired June 30.

The 45-day fact-finding process for the main contract with Local 85 ends Sept. 2; for the others, Oct. 3. Typically, when the main contract is settled, the smaller union groups accept the same general terms.

Service has continued without interruption for about 240,000 daily riders of buses, trolleys, the Monongahela Incline and ACCESS paratransit.

During the fact-finding period, the two parties submit position papers and supporting material, and make oral arguments. By the deadline, the fact-finder evaluates matters and issues a report recommending terms for an equitable settlement.

The Port Authority board and the unions have 15 days to accept or reject the report. If either party rejects the report, negotiations can continue under the oversight of a state mediator or, if they choose, the unions can strike the nation's 15th largest transit system.

The last strike by Local 85 took place in 1992, lasted 28 days, took the courts to settle and triggered some of the biggest ridership losses in authority history.

Meanwhile, the Port Authority has not extended the terms of any of its labor contracts. As a result, bus-trolley workers did not receive a cost-of-living increase usually due July 1, and pay progressions are stopped for new employees who started at 67 percent of top scale.

On May 18, the authority's chief negotiator, Bruce D. Campbell, filed two unfair labor practices complaints with the Labor Relations Board, claiming Local 85 refused to bargain in good faith, tried to set its own conditions, canceled bargaining sessions at the last minute, repeated demands for information already provided to the union and similar issues.

On July 7, Local 85 President-Business Agent Patrick McMahon filed an unfair labor practices complaint, claiming authority representatives have not bargained in good faith, that they told the union there would be no agreement or negotiations unless the union agrees to concessions. McMahon claimed the authority reps walked out of meetings and failed to provide information.

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Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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