Stalemate In DeCamp Strike; Negotiations Drag On

Montclair commuters should be prepared to take the train again on Wednesday as negotiations between striking DeCamp Bus workers and management haven't gone too well, according to the union.

As of 5:45 p.m., the sides remained at odds in the dispute over wages and benefits.

"There is an arctic freeze going on in here," stated Larry Hanley, International Vice President of the Amalgamated Transit Union, speaking from a conference room at DeCamp's attorney headquarters, Fox Rothchild LLP in Roseland.

"We've been across the table with the mediator and their attorney a couple of times already today," confirmed John Costa, ATU Chairman and State Business agent of the NJ State Joint Council. "At this time we're still at a stalemate."

Shortly after the interview, this Patch reporter was asked to leave the offices by an attorney for Fox Rothchild.

However, outside the building's premises at 75 Eisenhower Parkway, DeCamp employees continued the dialogue, at least with the media.

"Right now it's not going well. But we'll see what happens throughout the day," said Jorge Maldonado, President and Business manager of ATU Local 1317. "We're willing to compromise as long as the company is. But if inflexibility is there, we're [going to] have a problem."

David Hannon, a DeCamp mechanic who described himself as "simply a shop steward" concurred. "We're not just letting this go," he said. "We'll be here however long it takes." 

Maldonado said that DeCamp officials were using the economy as a pretense for not bargaining in good faith with employees. "Are they making money? Sure they are," he said. "They haven't said they're not."

Back at DeCamp headquarters in Montclair, a group of 20 to 30 strikers maintained a picket line up and down Greenwood Avenue. Though it was hot outside and the news from the trenches wasn't good, the strikers showed no signs of backing down on Day 6 of the dispute.

"When I started working here 20 years ago, there were well over 100 drivers on the roster," says DeCamp driver "Big Al" Feldman. "Now they want the same work out of 78 drivers. They have 7,500 to 8,000 riders a day. With ridership up 3 percent and fewer drivers, we can't help being late sometimes. We're trying to fill in all the gaps and plug up the dam. We just can't do it any more."

"They're bullies," said driver John Knight flatly. "Arrogant bullies."

"They're only trying to save money," agreed driver Millie Ruiz. 

"They say they're in an $8 million deficit," Feldman states, "but they make $12 million a year, of which $9 million goes to employee salaries. Guess what? That also includes managers' salaries. You can check out their financial report on Google.  We're working under a tyrant."

The "tyrant" says Ruiz, and the others agree, is Gary Pard, DeCamp's Executive Officer and General Manager. "I've been here 14 years," says Ruiz. "When I came here Bobby DeCamp's father was in charge. The old man would never have let this happen. It's a shame."

It wasn't possible to get a response from DeCamp. Patch approached the offices today, seeking comment to offer the management's side of the argument but a representative said the company would have no comments. They also would not return repeated phone calls.

Another driver, Jerry Soto, maintained, "With the economy the way it is now, you think we want to be on strike? I'm struggling to put my two daughters in college.  We're decent guys. We understand that the passengers are taking care of our families."

"We're not asking for the lion's share here," Feldman insisted. "We just want a bone. And they want to take that bone and hit us over the head with it."