MILWAUKEE -- Hundreds of Milwaukee County union bus drivers are on strike. That's leaving tens of thousands of commuters scrambling to make alternative plans to get to work and elsewhere.
The roughly 750 drivers walked off the job at 3 a.m. Wednesday, July 1st and began picketing at the Milwaukee County Transit System garages after contract negotiations between union leaders and transit officials broke down.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998 leaders say the strike will last until Saturday.
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele accuses the union of "punishing" people who rely on the buses to get around.
Union officials say one of the main obstacles to an agreement is the transit system's plans to hire retirees as part-time drivers.
It is the first strike by MCTS drivers since 1978, when union members stayed off the job for 39 days.
City of Milwaukee aldermen, Milwaukee County Supervisors and the Milwaukee County Board chairwoman have all released statements on this strike.
Milwaukee Alderman Robert Bauman and Alderman Russell Stamper II released a joint statement:
Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic and Milwaukee County Supervisor Michael Mayo Sr. (who chairs the Transportation, Public Works and Transit Committee) issued this statement:
Milwaukee County Supervisor John Weishan Jr. issued this statement:
Milwaukee County Supervisor Deanna Alexander issued this statement:
Milwaukee Alderman Bob Donovan issued this statement:
The Wisconsin AFL-CIO has issued this statement:
MCTS has about 150,000 passenger rides a day. This is the first MCTS bus driver strike since the late 1970s.
MCTS spokesman Brendan Conway says all new and updated information in the coming days will be available to the public at RideMCTS.com or by calling 414-988-5966.
This strike includes MCTS Route 143 that serves Ozaukee County and MCTS Route 6, 61 and 279 that serve Waukesha and Washington Counties.
Paratransit service is available during the strike for passengers who are eligible. For questions call 343-1700 or visit http://www.ridemcts.com/programs/transit-plus
MCTS will continue to hand out the GO Pass to eligible seniors and persons with disabilities. For more on the pass please visit http://www.ridemcts.com/fares-passes/go-pass
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