MCTS drivers schedule strike vote

As I reported back in December, contract negotiations between the Milwaukee County Transit System and the Amalgamated Transit Union have reached a stalemate. Now, according to confidential sources, the ATU has scheduled a strike vote for this Saturday, March 23rd.

The primary sticking point, one which neither side seems willing to budge over, is a significant change to the health insurance plan. Currently, the drivers have a $750 annual deductable. MCTS wishes to change this to a 20% co-insurance payment for all services. "We were willing to go to arbitration a year ago," says an ATU member who wishes to remain anonymous. "Now they want arbitration. What will the next contract be like? Or the one after that?"

An affirmative vote by ATU members does not signal an immediate strike. It does, however, allow the ATU president to call for a strike at a moment's notice.

With a fleet of 400 diesel buses and a dedicated team of 1,100 operators, mechanics and administrative staff, MCTS provides on average 130,000 rides every day to people across Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha Counties.