Bus officials warn of possible strike
By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer
City officials are making contingency plans for a possible bus strike but still hope to avert it through negotiations, officials of the O'ahu Transit Services company said yesterday.
Advertiser library photo • Sept. 21, 2000
A day after drivers and other city bus workers voted to authorize a strike, company officials said: "This does not mean that there will be a strike, but it increases that possibility."
O'ahu Transit Services President James Cowen said bus riders should begin to make alternative plans.
"All bus riders should begin to make plans for how they would make their daily trips if TheBus was shut down," OTS President James Cowen said in an open letter to riders to be published in daily newspapers today.
City and state actions in the event of a strike could include extending coning periods on major roads, curtailing major road work, putting police officers at major intersections and opening additional parking areas on city or private land, according to an OTS Web site.
No strike date has been set and negotiations are set to resume today, said Mel Kahele, president of the Hawai'i Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996, which represents the bus workers. Each side is required to provide at least 72 hours notice in the event of a strike or lockout.
OTS officials said yesterday there is not enough money in the new city budget to continue present levels of bus service and fund employee benefits at their present levels.
"The issue, of course, is money," spokeswoman Marilyn Dicus said. "Our objective is to confront these challenges rationally in a manner that does not unduly impact wages and core benefits like pension, vacation and healthcare."
To offset the budget deficit, the city plans another round of cuts in bus service next month, which could cause layoffs or a reduction in hours for full-time drivers, OTS officials said.
"We have made proposals instead that will allow some senior employees to take early retirement and junior operators to go to a four-day work schedule," said Perry Confalone, an attorney and spokesman for OTS. The union has rejected the early retirement option and not responded to the four-day work week offer, he said.
Kahele said Tuesday the strike vote is an indication that members are not willing to accept job cuts or other takebacks.
The union represents about 1,380 drivers, mechanics, clerks and supervisors with average wages between $15 and $21 an hour. The bus system services about 240,000 riders a day, OTS officials said.
