StarTran and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1091 reached a tentative contract agreement late Friday evening after a full day of mediated negotiations. The union membership will vote on the contract this week.

With the tentative agreement, StarTran employees returned to work at Capital Metro yesterday, after a three-day strike that began on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

Today StarTran General Manager Terry Garcia Crews again urged ATU 1091 to call off its planned strike tomorrow and instead focus on having productive contract settlement talks on Friday.

Read the letter.

As of this morning, StarTran had not heard back from ATU 1091 about a possible day of negotiations on Friday, November 7. StarTran sent a follow-up letter this morning to transit union President Jay Wyatt, requesting a response regarding the November 7 date and encouraging the union to focus on contract settlement rather than a strike.

Read the full letter.

ATU 1091 has announced to the local news media that it plans to call a transit strike on Wednesday, November 5.

This is disappointing, considering StarTran had responded to the Union’s desire to continue negotiations, suggesting the date of Friday, November 7, for a full day of negotiations with a federal mediator.

Should the union strike, Capital Metro customers can expect a disruption of service, although it will operate a network of core routes and all of the UT Shuttle routes. Current information about routes available, including schedules, is available on the Capital Metro Web site.

StarTran is extremely disappointed that Union leadership is spreading fear in the community about a possible strike on Election Day.  Watch KEYE’s coverage below and listen to an excerpt of KVET’s interview with StarTran GM Terry Garcia Crews.

Today StarTran learned that ATU Local 1091 rejected StarTran’s final offer. StarTran remains committed to the negotiation process and is willing to continue dialogue with the union. The union has expressed a desire to continue to negotiate as well. StarTran is hopeful that a strike can still be avoided.

StarTran has committed to keeping its employees informed of every step of the labor negotiations process. StarTran and ATU 1091 met for a full day of negotiations on October 15. This afternoon, StarTran management delivered to each employee an update and fact sheet about the negotiations.

Oct. 17 Memo to StarTran Employees

Updated Labor Negotiations Fact Sheet

Today StarTran issued the following news release:

StarTran Begins Open Enrollment for Health Benefits

New Health Insurance Plan Takes Effect January 1

October 17, 2008

StarTran, a nonprofit contactor that employs most of Capital Metro’s bus and paratransit operators and mechanics, will begin the open enrollment process for health insurance next week in order to implement the new health benefits on January 1, 2009.

“We are moving forward with the new health benefits plan to protect our employees,” said StarTran General Manager Terry Garcia Crews. “Delaying this process would not allow sufficient time to complete open enrollment; we don’t want our employees and their families to be without this new coverage on January 1. StarTran cannot afford to extend the existing health plan for another year.”

Why Implement the Health Benefits Plan?

• The new health plan year is effective January 1, 2009. 
• Must hold meetings now in order to inform employees of health plan changes and enrollment procedures.
• Must complete enrollment in early November to ensure that employees’ benefits and flexible spending account elections are available January 1, 2009.
• This is the normal enrollment time frame for benefits.
• StarTran is committed to making sure employees are well-informed about their benefits. 

For nearly 18 months, StarTran has attempted to reach an agreement with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1091 on a contract for wages and benefits. The Union voted to reject StarTran’s final proposal that was presented on July 24. During two more days of negotiations on Sept. 10-11, StarTran made several concessions at the request of the Union:

1) Healthcare Deductibles

Phased-in deductibles to reduce the impact of increases from the previous proposal. 
Phased plan:

• January 1, 2009: individual $100/family $200 (per Union’s request)
• January 1, 2010: individual $200/family $400 (per Union’s request)
• January 1, 2011: individual $300/family $600

2) Adjusted Wage Increases

New phased-in plan adjusted the wage increase plan by 3/4 of a percent over two years, 2008 and 2009, due to StarTran’s increased cost for implementing lower deductibles.

Date                                     Bonus or Wage Increase                  Immediately                                   $1,000 signing bonus                  2008                                              3% increase                 
2009                                              3% increase
2010                                              3.25% increase

3) Preventable Accidents

Reverted to existing contract language stating preventable accidents remain in employee’s file for 12 months rather than 24 months.

4) Part-time Workers

Refrained from hiring additional part-time workers and increasing hours worked. Reverted to existing contract language.

5) Increased Efficiency in Operational Management of Driver Assignments

Made several changes to the extra board procedures including establishing an A.M. and P.M. extra board.

6) Sedan Driver Category

Retained current contract language for sedan operators.

7) Contract Healthcare Language

Reverted to existing contract language which prevents management from making unilateral change unless the parties mutually agree in writing to reduce the benefits.

Despite StarTran’s concessions on these major issues and another day of negotiations on Oct. 15, the Union has not indicated a willingness to accept the offer.

“We tried to show substantial movement in addressing the Union’s concerns,” said Garcia Crews. “It’s disappointing that we must move forward with the new healthcare plan without the Union agreeing to accept guaranteed pay increases over the next several years.”

Highlights of the New Health Benefits Plan

• Phased-in deductibles as indicated above
• Maximum out-of-pocket expenses for health care will remain the same as in the current contract ($1,500 per person, $3,000 per family).
• Increased dental benefits to include orthodontia
• New option for vision benefits
• Lower monthly premiums for:
  • Employee and spouse coverage
  • Employee and children coverage
  • Employee and family coverage
• $10 increase in office visit co-pay
• Enhanced wellness benefits

Today, StarTran employees received an update from General Manager Terry Garcia-Crews regarding the labor negotiations. Terry stated:

Since we have been receiving questions about the status of contract negotiations, I felt it was necessary to update all of you.

At the last meeting on September 11, the Union stated they had additional questions and would be providing them to us in writing. After fourteen (14) days, we received the questions. In total, the letter was comprised of twenty-three (23) questions with several additional inquiries buried within the questions, requiring a significant amount of information dating back four years.

Nevertheless, we delivered the information on time according to the requested due date from the Union. I say this to demonstrate to you our desire to settle this contract.

We are scheduled to meet with the Union on October 15, to continue discussions. Hopefully, we can move this forward so that you can receive the wage increase you well deserve. I apologize for the length of time that it has taken to get a contract. I thought that after our meeting in September, and management agreeing with the Union on seven (7) out of the eleven (11) issues, we would have been close to a contract settlement. We tried to show substantial movement in addressing the Union’s concerns.

I still remain hopeful that we can get to an offer that will be taken to you for a vote of acceptance. As always, our negotiation management team and Labor Relations Administrator, Yolanda White are available to answer your questions.

In September, many claims were made by ATU 1091 to the local news media, claims that are simply not true. As part of our commitment to keep you informed with accurate, factual information, here’s the 411 on some specific false claims made by ATU 1091 President Jay Wyatt.

CLAIM: 9/13/08, Austin American Statesman-   “Capital Metro definitely wants a strike. And we’re trying not to oblige them,” said (union president) Jay Wyatt…”

FACT: It is the goal of Capital Metro and its contractors, including StarTran, to provide quality transportation choices to our community 365 days a year.  It is ridiculous to even suggest that management would want employees to strike.  The union, under the direction of the union president, makes the decision on whether to strike. 

CLAIM: 9/22/08 KLBJ AM-   “It’s not us who wants to go on strike. They’re pushing us on strike because they’re keeping their proposals on the table,” says Jay Wyatt, Austin ATU President. “You have to negotiate to get whatever you want. You can’t just shove it out there and say ‘take it’. That’s not real negotiations.”

FACT: During negotiations, StarTran made several changes to the proposal at the request of the Union in several key areas including: Time frame for preventable accidents, wages and hours for part time employees, Extra Board procedures, Union approval for unilateral changes to health benefits, and phased-in health care deductibles. Click here for more details. Regarding “real negotiations,” a federal mediator was present at the last several days of negotiations to ensure that the negotiating process was proceeding properly.

CLAIM: 9/22/08 KLBJ AM- Wyatt claims under the proposal for the operators that carry the disabled passengers, Capital Metro wants to cut pay by 14 cents an hour.

FACT: During negotiations, StarTran has NEVER proposed to reduce an employee’s hourly wage.  Based on the final offer, every bargaining employee would receive the following:

Date                             Wage increase or bonus

Immediately                  $1,000 signing bonus

July 1, 2008                 3% increase

July 1, 2009                 3% increase

July 1, 2010                 3.25% increase

CLAIM:  9/23/08 In Fact Daily- (Wyatt) charged StarTran management with bringing a “take it or leave it” attitude to the bargaining table.

FACT: As stated in an earlier answer, StarTran has negotiated in good faith and made several changes to its offer at the request of the Union.

CLAIM: 9/24/08 KXAN- “Since StarTran and Capital Metro [are] saying we make too much money and we have to control overtime, then we’re going to ask the employees not to work any overtime,” said Wyatt

FACT: StarTran has NEVER stated that employees make too much money or overtime must be controlled.  Overtime is a necessary part of running any public transit system.  StarTran is proposing a generous and well-deserved wage increase for all bargaining employees.  The final offer includes wage increases that are less than StarTran’s previous offer in order to accommodate the Union’s request to phase-in health care deductibles:

Date                             Previous Offer                          Final Offer

Immediately                  $1,000 signing bonus                $1,000 signing bonus

July 1, 2008                 3.5% increase                           3% increase

July 1, 2009                 3.25% increase                         3% increase

July 1, 2010                 3.25% increase                         3.25% increase