Around 70 unionized transit workers assembled at a Metropolitan Council transportation committee meeting in Minneapolis Monday to voice concerns over an ongoing contract dispute.
Job safety, arduous schedules and employee benefits were among many concerns raised by the Metro Transit workers. The demonstration coincided with a new round of contract negotiations in St. Paul between the Met Council and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005 that extended into the early evening.
“We care about getting a decent and fair contract, and we’re willing to fight to have a fair contract. It just seems a shame that we are not treated like the backbone to this company,” said Metro Transit bus driver Theresa Collins, who attended the demonstration.
Unionized transit operators and support personnel rejected the Met Council’s contract offer in November, citing operator safety as a main concern. Assaults on Twin Cities bus and light-rail operators have grown more common over the past five years. In 2016, 162 assaults were reported among more than 1,500 Metro Transit operators.
Collins has driven Metro Transit buses for 29 years. She said she’s been assaulted, spat on and threatened during her career.
“Driver assault is really big on the forefront right now for all of us,” Collins said. “I personally think that every driver that’s going to retire from this company will have been assaulted at least one time in their career.”
Union workers have called for Metro Transit to retrofit buses with protective driver enclosures in response to assault concerns, and have threatened to strike during the Feb. 4 Super Bowl if their demands aren’t met. The transit agency announced Dec. 1 that protective shields would be installed in 20 buses in the coming weeks as part of a pilot test.
David Dittbenner, a Metro Transit mechanic who attended the demonstration, said workers deserve a contract that offers better wages, benefits and scheduling.
Despite working for Metro Transit for 16 years, he said he isn’t able to get full weekends off from work.
“We’re here for a better contract than what they originally offered,” Dittbenner said.
Mark Lawson, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005, said the two parties made progress in negotiations Monday.
“On some things we’ve come closer to each other, and there’s a few key points where we’re not there yet as far as coming to an agreement,” he said.
Transit workers presented the Met Council with an updated proposal Monday evening, Lawson said, adding that a mediator will return with a response from Metro Transit by the end of the week.
He said he’s hopeful an agreement will be reached before a potential Super Bowl strike.
