Posted on: Wednesday, July 23, 2003

Bus workers authorize strike

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

O'ahu bus riders may have to begin considering alternative means of transportation after bus employees voted overwhelmingly yesterday to authorize a strike.

Of the 1,382 members of the Hawai'i Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996 who were eligible to vote, 1,144 gave the union the go-ahead to call a strike, while 51 voted no.

No strike date was set yesterday, and representatives from Local 996 and O'ahu Transit Services will meet at the bargaining table tomorrow. Local 996 president Mel Kahele said if no movement is made, the union is prepared to walk out.

"We hope in our Thursday negotiation session that the company is going to take us seriously," Kahele said. "(The vote) is giving me an indication that (the employees) aren't going to take any take-backs."

OTS officials would not comment last night. But after talks broke off earlier this month, OTS spokesman Perry Confalone said the union was making "summary rejections" of company proposals and was not attempting to work out the problems.

Confalone said the bus system's budget is $4.2 million lower than last year's and that OTS is facing extra costs this year, including $1.3 million in pension fund payment and a 25 percent increase in insurance costs.

OTS operates under a contract with the city to run the bus system. Local 996 represents about 1,380 drivers, mechanics, clerks and supervisors with average wages between $15 and $21 an hour.

About 241,000 people ride the bus each day, Kahele said.

Ben Tibas, a bus driver for 21 years, said he doesn't want to go on strike. But Tibas said he is prepared to walk out.

"I voted 'yes' to give the union the authorization that we're not going to give back anything that the company wants to take away from us," Tibas said. "Had we not voted to strike, all these things (cuts) would probably happen."

Kahele said the two sides are far apart on most of the major contract issues. He characterized OTS' latest offer as "ridiculous" because it called for freezes in wages and pension contributions, and layoffs, as well as cuts in benefits. Kahele also said job security is a major concern.

"Our members don't want to strike, but we will do whatever it takes to achieve a fair contract," he said.