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Tampa Transit Union Says No To Contract Proposal

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 30, 2008

TAMPA - The city's largest union on Monday overwhelmingly voted down a proposed one-year contract, forcing Mayor Pam Iorio's hand in a simmering dispute over higher wages and a longer contract.

Members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1464 turned down the proposed contract by a 615-84 vote. The decision puts the union and city administration back at the bargaining table and creates the possibility that the contract could be decided by the city council. Council members in August approved a contract with city firefighters after that union and the mayor's office couldn't reach agreement.

The transit union represents nearly 2,000 of Tampa's blue-collar, technical and clerical employees. The current contract expires at the end of the day today.

The proposed contract the union voted down would have given employees a 3 percent merit increase and a 3.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment. The contract included no reduction in benefits, such as health coverage, sick and longevity pay.

"In light of the city's budget situation, we feel that the proposed increase is generous," Iorio wrote in a letter to city employees outlining the proposed contract.

A major sticking point for the union, whose administration had recommended a no vote, was the length of the contract, which was for one year.

"We've always had a three-year contract. This is the first administration that has imposed a one-year contract and we're not happy with it," said union President Martha D. Stevens.

City officials said they wanted a one-year contract because of concerns about continued drops in property taxes and other funding sources.

"We felt it was fiscally prudent to go with a one-year contract," said Kimberly Crum, the city's human resource director. "We don't know what our revenues will be next year."

Union and city officials also disagreed on take-home vehicles. The union wanted to expand the number of workers on standby duty given take-home vehicles. City officials said the agreement reached last week wouldn't include an expansion of the take-home program.

It was unclear what effect the city council's Aug. 22 vote to approve the firefighters' contract played in the transit union negotiations.

In that vote, the council agreed to give firefighters pay raises that include a 4 percent cost-of-living raise, while keeping the step pay plan in place, which amounts to an additional pay increase averaging 5 percent for firefighters who hadn't already reached their wage cap.

Iorio had warned council members that their vote on the firefighter contract would embolden the transit union to seek similar pay raises.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

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