LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Some members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1637 are upset—not just with their employers over the lack of a new contract, but with ATU, which is negotiating on their behalf.
FOX5 talked with ATU International Vice President James Lindsay about negotiations.
“TransDev is interested in getting to a resolution,” he said of the private contractor that oversees route operations for RTC. “So I think overall, the process is going very well.”
Lindsay does not think a strike is likely.
“They’ve been willing to work with us on it, so at this point, I don’t see it happening,” he said, referring to a potential strike. “I’m not saying that it’s off the table. It definitely could be on the table, but at this point, we’re not at an impasse.”
During a town hall phone conference between union leadership and members on Wednesday night, Lindsay fielded some tough questions, with one caller asking if it’s time for him to find another job. Many of the members calling in were unconvinced that the union will be able to deliver on their demands for higher pay, long-term disability provisions and higher holiday pay.
Lindsay told FOX5 he thinks the town hall went well, and regarding the frustrations of some members, he said the union is working for the majority of its members.
“There definitely could be individuals out there that have wants or expectations, and we may or may not be able to get to those,” he said, adding that he feels the majority’s needs are being addressed.
Multiple drivers tell FOX5, though, that many of those dissatisfied members are soliciting the local Teamsters for representation instead. One source reports more than 400 drivers in the Las Vegas Valley have already signed Teamsters cards.
FOX5 has reached out to the local Teamsters for comment and has not heard back.
One thing drivers and the union are on the same page about is salary progression. They’re pushing for five years to cap out at $35 per hour with a $25 per hour starting wage.
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