12/27/2004 Good News: The mechanics and the company came to an agreement. There was a vote of 6 to 3 in favor of accepting the company's offer. As the company and the mechanics have reached an agreement there will no longer be a strike on January 3rd. The contract gave the mechanics most everything that was necessary to have a decent contract that they could LIVE with. The only area that they really took a hit was in the pension. Now you may think, well, we don't have a pension. This is true, but in the machinist trade, a low pension contribution is $700. per employee per month; a high pension contribution is $1,000. per employee per month. Our mechanics get the lowest pension in the region: 1st year-$372.00; 2nd year-$416.00; 3rd year-$459.00; this is per employee per month. But they ratified their contract and we were able to put down our signs and go to work on January 3rd. There was a lesson in this labor struggle. There is power in unity. Our drivers stood behind our mechanics and let the company know that we were in support of a fair contract and that we would NOT cross their picket line. The message was loud and clear. On December 22, 2004, the people in attendance of the negotiation session were the heads of the SFUSD transportation office, the leaders of the Labor Council as well as Laidlaw and UTU. There have been phone calls of support from SF council members as well as the BOE. No one wanted a strike at the "yellow bus yard" but by showing our unity and getting the message our, we avoided a strike. This took dedication and participation by our membership. Your leadership is very proud of the members that participated in the campaign...we could not have been successful without you.
Some Excerpts of Letters from the Mechanics Union to Our Union:
In a card from our mechanics: If it weren't for great people like you.....there wouldn't be grateful people like us! Thank you for all of your hard work.
In a letter from our mechanics: 12-14-04 To: UTU From: Members of the Auto Machinist Local 1414 Thank you for all of your hard work and for trying to help us get a fair contract. We appreciate everything that you have done for us in the last 18 months of negotiations and are doing for us during our current negotiations. We are trying to negotiate in good faith but all Laidlaw seems to want are concessions from us. We feel that it is not right and that what affects us can affect you later. We rejected their last contract proposal on Tuesday 12-07-04) by 100%. We voted to strike by 100%. Thank you again for everything that you have done for us. Tony Bill Paul Mike Jump-start Lloyd Rick Lal Alex Sam David
12/22/2004 Bargaining session: Dennis Garden, David Golden, his boss, Tim Paulson, from the labor council, and Tom Brandon & John Moran of the Machinist's union, as well as most of the mechanics were there. For the Company was Barbara Perry and Bob Gonzales. Members from UTU 1741 were also in attendance. Most of the minor issues got resolved at this bargaining session, the meeting was productive, but the outstanding issues didn't seem to leave an easy solution, even though the Company's costs to settle are probably not very much. The two major issues remaining are the health insurance costs, and the pension contributions.
Here is what has been agreed to at today's meeting:
Issues not yet resolved (Health care & pension):
The union offered to forgo its cost of living for the first year (Sept. 04-Sept.05) in exchange for a zero co-payment on the Health insurance. The Union also dropped its pension demands to $.30 per hour increase in each year, for a total of $.90 by the end of the contract. The Company's offer was to pay an additional $60 per person per month for the first year and $0 per month increase each year after that for health insurance. Any increases in subsequent years would be born entirely by the mechanics themselves. And for the pension, they would take the first year's cola and add it to their proposal of $.25 per hour for a total of $.60 per hour for the first year increase and no other increases after that. The Mechanics rep, John Moran, told the Company that they would not accept the company's last proposal, and asked Barbara Perry if she thought they were at impasse. She declined, and John said that she should go back over her figures and reconsider her position. He said he would be available for negotiations next week. Keep your fingers crossed.
NOTE: The heath insurance issue is a major problem. The company did offer to pay an additional $60. However, the cost increase is thought to be far in excess of this. Some estimates have been between $100 & $180 a month. Also the company is not agreeing to increase past this $60 initial amount. If the cost of the mechanic's health care skyrockets they may be required to carry the entire burden without any further contribution from the company.
Week of 12/12/2004 Two additional informational pickets are held outside the Laidlaw property in an effort to inform the public and to encourage the parties to come to an agreement so a strike can be averted. A bargaining date of Dec 22nd has been scheduled. This is a good sign!
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Some of the major unresolved issues at this time are:
- overall this is still a takeaway offering -
12/07/2004 The mechanics had a unanimous strike vote. The anticipated strike date is January 3rd.
12/06/2004 The mechanics hold an unsuccessful bargaining session. An informational picket is held, outside of the Jerrold St. property, to show solidarity with the mechanics, as this may be their last bargaining session before their agreement expires. Click here to read the article in the Examiner.
12/02/2004 Local Committee meeting (LCOA): Melvin Brown (LCOA Chairperson) informs the committee that he has recently been informed that the mechanics temporary agreement with the company will expire on December 17th. They are supposed to meet with the company on December 6th. One of the major issues is the cost of health care.
July 2004 A no strike agreement is reached between the company and the mechanics union. The agreement is contingent on continuing under the current contract condition until Dec 17th.
4/29/2004 Local Committee meeting (LCOA): Marshall Thomson (a.k.a Beau, Sec/Tres UTU 1741) contacted our international to find out if we would qualify for strike fund monies. Results: In the event that the mechanics go on strike and picket Laidlaw we will be eligible to for strike fund monies.
4/14/2004 Good News! - John Moran informed our union that the company has agreed to go back to the bargaining table with the mechanics on April 26th. There will be no picketing on April 19th.
4/09/2004 Special Union Meeting: John Moran (Business Agent for the mechanics union) informs the membership of the situation. According to John, Laidlaw is asking for cuts in wages and benefits that on average amount to over $400 per mechanic per month. Our union reemphasizes our support for their struggle. John informs us that the mechanics right to strike has been sanctioned. As it stands the mechanics may picket Laidlaw property on the 19th of April (the day we return from spring break). Hopefully the mechanics and Laidlaw can reach an agreement by this deadline. The membership is informed of section 34 B of our contract:
Section 34 B. No disciplinary action may be taken against a Bus Driver for honoring any picket lines or like actions against this Company, other Companies or the San Francisco Unified School District.
Updates on the situation will be posted on this website and be passed along via a phone tree and through the union office message center. In addition, union officials will be at the property early on the 19th if the situation is not resolved by then. Everyone is expected to come to work as usual. Settlements can be reached at a moment's notice. If there is a picket or like action a union official we be there to inform you about it.
4/08/2004 Local Committee meeting (LCOA): The committee emphasizes the importance or ensuring as many members as possible attend tomorrow's special union meeting. Announcements will be made and bulletins placed in all the drivers boxes.
4/07/2004 The situation with the mechanics has become imminent. Union and committee members decide to call a special meeting to inform the membership about the situation with the mechanics and what their duties, obligations and rights under our contract and union constitution are.
3/18/2004 Local Committee meeting (LCOA): The mechanics had a recent negotiating session with Laidlaw, which did not go well. If things do not improve the mechanics may strike possible on the 12th or the 19th of April.
1/04/2004 Local Committee meeting (LCOA): The committee is informed that the mechanics took a strike vote and it was unanimous in favor. Laidlaw and the mechanics are still in strained and delayed negotiations. The company is still threatening to take work offsite.
11/20/2003 Local Committee meeting (LCOA): The mechanics were given a last best and final offer from the company. They have not voted on whether to accept it yet. It is thought that they will reject it as it still offers major takeaways.
11/14/2003 Letter from John Moran (Mechanics Business Representative): The letter informed the mechanics that the company would enter into "Effects Bargaining" if the mechanics reject the company's last best and final offer. This means there will be no further negotiations with the mechanics and their contract will not be renewed.
11/06/2003: Local Committee meeting (LCOA): Susan Moorehead mentions that the mechanics met with the company and the company gave them a back against the wall response, essentially telling them that this is as good as it is going to get. The company threatened to use the machinist union over at Ryder, putting the mechanics out of work. Some of the minor issues have been worked out but little progress was made on the major economic issues e.g. health care.
10/9/2003: Local Committee meeting (LCOA): The status of the mechanics negotiations is discussed. The committee reviews the current offer from the company. The company is still proposing major takeaways including a wage cuts and major increases in their health care contributions. The committee assures the mechanics that they will not cross their picket lines in the event of a strike. Rumors are circulating that Laidlaw may try to sub contract the work to another facility outside of the bus yard.
9/22/2003: Susan Moorehead (President UTU 1741 at this time) issues letter (click here to read - pdf format) to Ronn English, notifying Laidlaw to bargain in good faith.
9/10/03: Union Meeting. The mechanics speak at our meeting about the difficult time they are having negotiating a fair contract with Laidlaw. Laidlaw is asking for significant cutbacks. After hearing a lengthy description of the issues the union votes to support the mechanics and directs Susan Moorehead to issue a letter to Ronn English, notifying Laidlaw to bargain in good faith. Paul Stein reminds the union how the mechanics supported us during our strike.
June 2003: the mechanics contract expires, they have been working without a contract ever since.
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