The union representing bus drivers and mechanics in Milwaukee County says it will reject the latest contract offer by the Milwaukee Transit System.
The Amalgamated Transit Union says 92 percent of its members voted against the offer. Local union president James Macon said the company needs to come back to the bargaining table and be willing to go to arbitration if necessary.
“Stop playing games,” he said. “It’s a game to them. They put this out there to see how we’d respond. We responded, again, 92 percent. They should get the message.”
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The contract offer was the latest development in a months-long labor dispute. The ATU had already rejected another contract offer in June, and bus drivers walked off the job for a three-day period shortly after that.
Macon said the transit system wants to add part-time workers without getting rid of another job category that doesn’t provide any benefits or pension payments. Macon said the rank and file have authorized another work action, to be determined by the union’s executive board as early as Tuesday.
The transit system says it remains committed to reaching a fair contract that is fiscally responsible.
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