The Region - News from Feb. 1, 1985

Representatives of the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the union representing 5,000 bus drivers are meeting with a state mediator in an attempt to reach agreement on a new contract. Under state law, if the RTD and the United Transportation Union, which represents the drivers, fail to reach agreement during the next 12 days with the help of a mediator, Gov. George Deukmejian may appoint a special fact-finding panel to investigate the dispute. If a strike is threatened, the governor has the power to ask for a court injunction for a 60-day “cooling off” period while the panel makes its recommendation for a non-binding contract settlement. The union seeks a 6% pay hike. The RTD wants to freeze wages and fringe benefits, but it has proposed bonuses for drivers who reduce absenteeism, accidents and customer complaints. Full-time drivers earn up to $12.72 an hour; part-time drivers, $9.54.