Bus Strike Threat Eases but RTD’s Clerks Are Restive

The RTD’s board of directors voted Wednesday to approve new 3-year labor contracts with bus drivers and mechanics, greatly reducing the threat of a strike and easing the minds of hundreds of thousands of bus riders.

However, a walkout that could disrupt service remained a possibility late Wednesday, as disputes arose in negotiations between the transit district and its less-noticed, 750-member clerks union.

The clerks, including secretaries, typists and others who work in offices throughout the district, scheduled a possible strike vote for today, when they will consider a contract offer approved Wednesday by the Southern California Rapid Transit District board. A number of undisclosed issues remained unresolved, and Arthur R. Garlick, local chairman of the Transportation Communication International Union, said a walkout could be called as early as Friday morning.

“The RTD is dragging their feet,” Garlick said. “We are only looking for the same package that the other unions received.”

Bus service could be affected because RTD mechanics, and possibly the drivers, might refuse to cross the clerks’ picket lines.

Still, the news was upbeat Wednesday for transit-dependent commuters. The 2,000-member mechanics’ union approved its agreement Tuesday evening, and the union representing about 5,000 bus drivers was expected to ratify its contract at a mass meeting late Wednesday at the Hollywood Palladium.

The biggest sighs of relief came from the bus benches. “That’s good. . . . I’m very happy,” said 70-year-old Helen Montano of San Gabriel, waiting at a stop outside Los Angeles City Hall. “I depend on (the RTD) to go everywhere I go.”

“Good,” said Guilio Ressa, 28, who said he has no car and rides the RTD daily. “I use the bus to go to work.”

All Sides Relieved

Driver and mechanic union officials, as well as RTD officials, also were relieved. Both sides had feared public reaction to a strike, particularly in the wake of recent criticism of the agency.

District officials gained new controls on high employee absenteeism, a major cause of adverse publicity and increased costs in recent years. And the drivers and mechanics were able to retain automatic annual raises tied to cost of living, in addition to a 60-cent-an-hour increase over the three years of the contract. The current top hourly rate for an RTD driver is $14.53, while the top hourly rate for a mechanic is $16.76.

There were no immediate figures available on the cost of the contracts. However, sources had said earlier that one goal of the financially troubled agency was to finance a large share of the pay increases out of cost-savings gained through new controls on absenteeism and other problem areas.

“I’m extremely happy with the results,” said Earl Clark, head of the bus drivers’ union. “I think it’s a fair contract,” said Neil Silver, head of the mechanics’ union. “The district got a lot of work-rule changes that tighten up (management’s ability to control) attendance and when you are going to get overtime.”

Silver said his members understood that they had to make concessions this year because, “We recognized the need and what was going on over at the district. They are under intense pressure” to reduce costs.

RTD board member Jan Hall, who spoke for the district, said the message of the settlements is that “we are continuing to try to improve. . . . This is one more success.”

A number of crucial details of the settlements with drivers and mechanics that could determine the RTD’s eligibility for tens of millions of dollars in local transit funds controlled by the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, remained unclear.

The commission, which controls the RTD’s purse strings, has set guidelines for the new labor agreements. Although they repeatedly declined to elaborate Wednesday, RTD officials said they believe the contracts comply. Among the commission requirements are linking some wage increases to employee productivity improvements and removing barriers to contracting out for services with private companies.

Some knowledgeable sources had indicated that part of the motivation for settling before the July 1 expiration of the contracts--the first time in 20 years that such early agreements have been reached--was to take advantage of what some see as a possible loophole in the commission’s guidelines.

Some RTD and union officials have suggested that the commission’s guidelines may only apply to contracts entered into after July 1.