Prince George’s County bus drivers plan to continue a strike for the seventh day on Monday, leaving thousands of riders stranded as the workweek starts.
A five-hour negotiating session Friday ended in gridlock.
“Negotiations didn’t go well at all,” said Howard Marshall, business agent for the bus drivers union. “But we aren’t ending the strike. [Drivers] know that without job security they are always going to be tap-danced on.”
The roughly 150 contracted drivers on strike, employed by Veolia Transportation, say they want more job security, better health insurance, higher wages and lunch breaks.
Prince George’s County pays Veolia to operate TheBus, the county’s public transportation system that carries roughly 14,000 riders daily. The union’s contract with Veolia expired July 1.
The company has stretched to restore half of its 60-bus fleet — with temporary driver replacements — since the strike began at 5 a.m. Sept. 13, but many of the routes being serviced are severely limited.
Veolia officials have offered a $1 raise to employees — which would equal a 5.5 percent wage increase for the highest-paid drivers earning $18 an hour.
But employees say they would rather take no pay increase, and instead funnel the extra money toward a mandatory health care plan — which would give the union bargaining power. The union cannot legally negotiate an opt-in policy.
But Veolia officials are rooting for its cheaper, employee-elected plan.
“We do not see how forcing all employees to enroll in the health care plan brings any benefit to employees, to riders or to the county,” said Veolia spokeswoman Ruth Otte. “Ultimately, the county is spending tax dollars [for Veolia to operate] and we want to spend those tax dollars wisely.”
Drivers also charge that the company’s disciplinary system is too harsh.
“Progressive discipline is rarely used,” said driver Kathleen LaFortune. “They just go from suspension to termination — for the littlest things, like running a yellow light.”
Otte said Veolia’s disciplinary system — which became more rigid last year after dashboard cameras were installed to monitor driver behavior — is a reflection of the company’s commitment to safety.
Since the strike began, roughly five of 26 routes have been operating full service. The rest are scheduled for limited service or no service. Fare is free during the strike and riders can check on the status of service on the county Web site or by calling 301-324-2877.
