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No transit strike Thursday: MCTS contract proposal on the table
No transit strike Thursday: MCTS contract proposal on the table
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee County and transit union leaders were at the negotiating table late into the night Wednesday, Nov. 6, as the union threatened to strike -- keeping buses off the road Thursday morning. Around 9:30 p.m., the union president told FOX6 News there would be bus service Thursday, after a contract proposal was brought to the table.
Dan Boehm, MCTS managing director issued this statement late Wednesday:
"They moved a little on the backup pay," said James Macon, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998 late Wednesday. "They didn't move on security -- pretty much standard. They're willing to talk about it, but we've been doing that for 24 years -- talking about it. No action on that."
Macon said earlier Wednesday if the union's contract demands were not met by the time the final overnight bus pulled in, service would be on ice come sunrise.
James Macon
"So right now, I told them I'm willing to wait until 3:00 in the morning -- until the last bus pulls in," said Macon Wednesday afternoon. "If no deal is being done before today, again, there will not be no bus service tomorrow morning."
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele
Wednesday's negotiations came two weeks after the union called off a strike after receiving a contract proposal from the Milwaukee County Transit System.
Macon said Wednesday one sticking point was driver backpay for the months without a contract and took a swipe at Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele.
"We're here, willing to stay to get this deal done, but if they want to go by a mandate coming from the county executive, you will not have no bus service in Milwaukee County tomorrow morning, due to county executive Chris Abele," said Macon.
Abele issued this statement to FOX6 Wednesday:
MCTS officials said negotiations would continue, and if no agreement was reached, the discussions would continue Thursday.
Again, Macon told FOX6 News Wednesday night there would be bus service Thursday. Macon said the contract proposal would go to union members for a vote on Nov. 15.