Milwaukee bus drivers and mechanics may be steering toward a strike following the rejection of a proposed one-year contract with the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS). The contract was declined by a 90% vote from members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998, based on a report from WISN. Union president Bruce Freeman expressed the group's determination, stating that "The membership has spoken."
Having faced stagnating negotiations since January, the union is pushing for better wages and improved security measures, citing an incident from earlier yesterday when a driver was attacked over a fare dispute, as explained by the union's vice president Mike Brown who told CBS 58. Following a commanding vote earlier this month, with 98% in favor, a strike authorization is on the table, introducing a tension already heightened by MCTS's nearly $11 million budget deficit, resulting in fewer buses servicing some routes.
Details of the declined offer have not been disclosed, but what is clear is that the union and MCTS are stalled at the bargaining table, potentially placing commuters' day-to-day travel in jeopardy. Freeman pointed out in his statement obtained by WISN that "It's kind of up to the company to start bargaining with us instead of just, you know, basically shooting everything that we want down."
While the possibility of a strike looms, MCTS remains hopeful for a resolution. An MCTS spokesperson conveyed their commitment to ongoing discussions in hopes of reaching a "fair, sustainable agreement" that benefits all parties involved, according to CBS 58. This follows a similar situation in the summer of 2015, when drivers last went on strike, disrupting transit services for three days.
As union members prepare to return to negotiations, the pressure to formulate a viable contract that addresses their concerns and balances MCTS's fiscal challenges continues to mount. The transit union, according to a report by Fox 6 Now, has made it clear that the overwhelming vote to reject the one-year contract is a signal for MCTS to bring a more meaningful proposal to the table.
