Port Authority Rejects Union's Proposal

PITTSBURGH - The Port Authority of Allegheny County on Friday rejected a last-ditch contract concession offered by the Amalgamated Transit Local 85 union in an attempt to stave off extensive layoffs and a 15 percent service cut.

Union President Patrick McMahon said the union offered County Executive Dan Onorato a proposal under which members would take a 10 percent wage cut and forgo a 3 percent wage increase. He said that offer would have saved $18.6 million for the transit agency and prevented the deep service cuts that are set to go into effect Sunday.

"This union agreed to take a significant cut out of its pay because that's the right thing to do for our riders,” McMahon said.

Despite the rejection by the board, the union said it is still open to negotiations, but will not consider two other cost-cutting proposals put forward by Onorato. The board will reconvene its meeting today at 3 p.m., but it’s unclear if there will be movement on either side.

During the Friday morning board meeting, members of the transit union filled the room, often jeering and heckling members of the board as they spoke. Outside, protesters lined Sixth Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh, demonstrating their opposition to the widespread public transit cuts.

The transit agency's board to eliminate 29 bus routes, lay off 180 employees and close the Harmar bus garage in an effort to stretch $45 million in federal highway funding provided by former Gov. Ed Rendell. The Port Authority estimated that those cuts would affect 5 percent of drivers throughout the county. 

The $45 million in funding was expected to stretch Port Authority service to June 2012, when more cuts would be necessary if a new revenue source from the state is not found.