FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — Fairfax Connector bus line service could be halted by a strike in less than a week, according to a local transit union.
Both Amalgamated Transit Union 1764 and contractor Transdev said negotiations have broken down, regarding agreeing to a new contract by Nov. 30.
ATU 1764 has accused Transdev of participating in unfair labor practices and bad faith bargaining tactics.
"We remain committed to negotiating with Transdev to reach a fair and just contract, but the company's unfair labor practices have pushed our members to the brink," ATU International President John Costa said in a statement. "We aren't eager to strike, but we want our riders to know that Transdev's actions have significantly increased the likelihood that we will have to walk off the job sometime next week. We encourage riders to prepare to find alternatives after the holidays."
Transdev began operating the Fairfax Connector bus service in July. In a statement, the contractor said it was disappointed by the union's stance.
"We are disappointed that the union would not accept Transdev's good faith offer on the table to extend the current contract, which included full retroactive pay and a wage increase," the statement read.
Roughly 30,000 passengers use the 91 routes on the Fairfax Connector daily according to the county government.
WUSA9 reached out to Fairfax County for comment on these latest developments, but at the time of publication there had been no response.
An ongoing strike has already affected some Metro bus service in Alexandria city, Fairfax and Arlington counties for more than a month, as Transdev and ATU 689 have worked to negotiate a contract regarding work at the Cinder Bed Bus Garage as well.
Statements from both ATU and Transdev can be read in full below.
ATU 1764 Statement:
As a result of Fairfax Connector contractor Transdev’s unfair labor practices and bad faith bargaining with ATU Local 1764, Fairfax Connector workers have begun preparations for a strike.
"We remain committed to negotiating with Transdev to reach a fair and just contract, but the company’s unfair labor practices have pushed our members to the brink," ATU International President John Costa said. "We aren’t eager to strike, but we want our riders to know that Transdev’s actions have significantly increased the likelihood that we will have to walk off the job sometime next week. We encourage riders to prepare to find alternatives after holidays."
Costa linked the fight at Fairfax Connector to the ongoing strike at a nearby Metrobus garage.
"Transdev is demonstrating the same blatant disregard for their riders and their workers at Fairfax Connector as they have with our Local 689 sisters and brothers at Cinder Bed Road Bus Garage, who have now been on strike for 35 days," Costa said.
The National Labor Relations Board is currently investigating 32 separate allegations that Transdev violated federal labor law by failing to bargain in good faith with Local 1764.
"This is about the lawlessness and complete disregard of Transdev for federal labor law and these workers," Costa said. "That’s why these workers are considering walking off the job."
Earlier this month, the more than 600 members of Local 1764 at Fairfax Connector overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike over unfair labor practices by the French-based multinational employer.
"It’s time for Fairfax Connector and WMATA to fire Transdev," Costa said. "Their union-busting tactics have now led to the biggest transit strike in the capital region in more than 41 years, and it may grow to impact hundreds of thousands of additional commuters. Transdev pursues profit at the expense of workers, riders, and the communities they exploit. It’s time to show them the door and kick them out of the DMV."
Transdev Statement:
We are disappointed that the union would not accept Transdev’s good faith offer on the table to extend the current contract, which included full retroactive pay and a wage increase. Instead, they have chosen to leave the two parties without a contract and have threatened a strike, thus creating unnecessary anxiety and uncertainty for the riders of Fairfax Connector.
Transdev began operating the Fairfax Connector Bus Service on July 1, 2019. Transdev has bargained in good faith with ATU 1764 for seven bargaining sessions in the month of November. Because the union was unable to find negotiating dates prior to this month, Transdev offered the union a straightforward and sensible plan: a 60-day extension of the current terms and conditions along with retroactive pay back to the expiration of the contract, November 30, 2019. This would extend the current contract to give the two parties time to negotiate a new agreement.
The union has refused on three different occasions to sign the contract extension, including last night, and will not provide a reason to Transdev. The ATU Local 1764 are governed by the current terms and conditions in an existing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiated with the previous contractor, not Transdev. The bus services contract with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation required Transdev to honor the existing CBAs with the Teamsters, the ATU and the OPEIU, which we have done.
Transdev committed to continue bargaining all this week, but the union stated they are unavailable to bargain beyond yesterday, November 26, 2019. They indicated that the next available date for them would be December 4th.
The current seniority roster of ATU local 1764 shows that four hundred and ten (410) of the six hundred and one (601) employees currently make over $32 an hour.