Why LTD Can Renew Our Expired Agreement and Why they Won't Do It.
Fellow workers LTD is planning fall training this year. Amazing isn't it? Will we learn anything at this training? Will we get brainwashing materials about the magnificent BRT program? Will we be told that we we can be more efficient because of the much ballyhooed Automatic Vehicle Locator/ Automatic Passenger Counting systems. Do you think that this is two million dollars worth of more efficiency? Really it is hard to say. We have been told that Ken Hamm will be at the meetings for the fall training. Joe Hill is working on few questions that workers may want to ask the big cheese. Questions we really need answers to as soon as possible. But before that Joe Hill has been thinking about the service reductions that have been and are going to be made.
The BRT Beast is certainly one of the reasons for these cuts. The Beast is gobbling up the money faster than we get it from the federal government. The beast has his nose and tongue in our pockets looking for a taste of the money we have ... or won't have after the bargaining. But Joe got to thinking about this and has a new and more gloomy possibility.
Shrinking of the regular system of service makes us easier to replace us with scabs. Fewer workers means fewer replacements being called into service if we go on strike. This will really be true if any of us refuse to follow the union and follow the scabs. Will they replace us. Yes - SMS is salivating to cut our throats for this business. Pangborn is anxious to do it. And if you think it is not possible just remember that many transit properties have fully contracted delivery of service.
Less service to the public makes it easier for the public to be told and believe that it is all our fault. This is the potential danger that lies ahead for us. Now Joe you keep saying scab - if we all go on strike - then who are the scabs. They are the crummy sub-contractors trying to take your job simply because they are going to be willing to work for less than you or me. They are also our so-called brothers and sisters who cross our pickets to take the offers of the bosses. Examples of scabs exist right now. The Diamond Express is OUR work being done by scabs. Even the RideSource is our work being done by scabs. LTD wants to have our jobs in the hands of the scabs - yes they do - trust me, I know this. It is obvious now from their actions.
How can we tell?
1. They are being super hard on the negotiations. They are hoping that we stalemate or refuse to accept their inadequate offers.
2. Pressure - Lots of us are getting letters and warnings for this that and the other. Picayune things that only adds pressure to our representative and us.
3. Reduce public service so they blame us and make replacing us later popular.
4. Control freaks - Hamm, Johnson, Heklesen, and Pangborn are all control freaks. For all four of these gems, it their way or the highway. No one knows Neigdig well enough to make this judgement yet about her, but one thing seems to be showing -ruthlessness.
5. They are subcontracting in the shop on overhauls. They spent a fortune in legal bills to make sure that they kept that in place.
Another factoid from the this year's budget is information from the Fully Allocated Cost Plan. This plan is how LTD determines what it needs to charge organizations for special services like UO Football service. Joe Hill developed this chart from LTD's own numbers. This chart is important. It says five very important things.
1. The First line is the cost of operator "platform" hours on average for bus operators. What do our average wages and benefits cost per hour.
2. Line 2 is the percent of increase from year to year. The only number that LTD knows for sure is the 02-03 to 03-04 increase. Note that it is 4.75% increase from last year to this with out current contract. This number is constant in the plan.
3. Why can't LTD agree to extend the current agreement since from 04-05 and beyond they project the same rate of increase. In other words, the rate of increase is the same in the projection. The District can and should just renew our expired agreement.
4. Please note the that the rate of increase of costs is greater per hour for supervisors than it is for Bus Operators.
5. Lastly, who gets the biggest rate of increase for the same time period? Yes you guessed right. The General Administration rate is highest of all. Just how much does Ken Hamm make per hour anyway?
How many sides of their mouth can they talk out of at the same time? Way too many for Joe's liking. They are working their way to scab us out. They could and can afford to renew the existing agreement.
We must kill the beast and remove their reasons to take our money. We must expose their waste. And be ready Brothers and Sisters. They are obvious and cruel in their intent. They do not respect you and your labor. They want you to submit to them and their demands. Not because LTD needs us to or for important reasons. They want submission simply based upon their unfair desires and to satisfy their emotional needs for control. Look at the Chart below.
Fully Allocated Cost Plan
