Milwaukee County Transit System union members have approved a new three-year labor contract, ending months of conflict between the bus drivers and mechanics and county officials.
The deal calls for pay raises for the mechanics and drivers. Amalgamated Transit Union President James Macon said many members also wanted changes in working conditions, including drivers being given longer bathroom breaks.
Macon said the disagreements weren’t worth another walkout.
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“You go on strike, you don’t know how long you’re going to be out there,” he said. “And I don’t want to inconvenience my members and I didn’t want to inconvenience the riding public.”
Union members did walk off the job for three days in July.
But Macon said about 80 percent of those voting approved the three-year deal. Macon said many rank and file were ready to say yes to the deal after the transit system dropped plans to add part-time drivers.
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