An additional uncertainty as RTD tries to close a $23 million deficit this year is negotiating a labor contract for RTD employees to replace the existing agreement, which expires Feb. 28.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1001, which represents about 1,900 bus and train operators and mechanics, has proposed a “modest increase in wages” while RTD’s proposal is for a three-year wage freeze.
Phil Washington, RTD’s assistant general manager for administration, said the agency is not seeking concessions from union workers that would yield savings.
On Thursday, the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment will act on the union’s request for state labor officials to order arbitration in lieu of allowing a strike by the transit workers.
To protect its bargaining position, the union has submitted to the labor department a formal “Notice of intent to strike” as early as March 1 if the parties cannot reach agreement on a new contract and RTD refuses “to submit unresolved issues to arbitration.”
Another factor that could lead to a strike would be the labor department’s determination, “incorrectly in our view,” the union said, “that a strike will not interfere with the preservation of the public peace, health and safety.”
Three years ago, a strike left RTD users with limited service for a week after Gov. Bill Owens refused to have his labor officials forestall a walkout by invoking the arbitration provision.
Evan Dreyer, Gov. Bill Ritter’s spokesman, would not say whether Ritter will be involved in his labor department’s decision regarding binding arbitration if RTD and union negotiators fail to reach an agreement.
Jeffrey Leib, The Denver Post
