Bus union submits five-year proposal

By Curtis Lum and Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Staff Writers

Talks between the union that represents more than 1,300 city bus workers and bus management will resume Monday, with both sides reporting progress after nearly 12 hours of negotiations yesterday.

Striking bus workers marched down Beretania Street yesterday on their way to Honolulu Hale after a Teamsters rally at the State Capitol. Police estimated the crowd at the rally at between 700 and 1,000. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Union president Mel Kahele and OTS chief negotiator Perry Confalone did not want to discuss the offers that are on the bargaining table as talks ended last night. But Kahele acknowledged that the company's latest proposal would cover 32 months.

The two men said no talks will be held this weekend to allow both sides to go over the latest contract offers. Union members and OTS negotiators left the talks in a jovial mood, unlike previous talks that ended with bitter statements from both sides.

"We did make some headway," Kahele said. "The company did agree on some of the issues, but the wages and pension are still open."

Confalone characterized yesterday's talks as "reasonably productive."

"What I sense is that during this particular round of negotiations there was a very deliberative process going on," Confalone said. "There were active discussions and very hard work on both sides attempting to explore alternative ways of ending the strike in a manner which meets union concerns but also the company's concerns about cost containment."

Last night's negotiations culminated a tough week for the sun-burned and weary strikers that peaked during a high-spirited rally at the State Capitol and march to City Hall yesterday afternoon.

Earlier yesterday evening, the outlook wasn't so promising as Don Owens, Teamsters spokesman from Washington D.C., briefed reporters. "They're still negotiating, but the reception has been lukewarm at best," he said at about 8 p.m., referring to OTS reaction to the union's latest proposal.

He said OTS had just submitted a counterproposal. He said the sticking points were wages and pensions. "Folks are being deprived of their buses for 50 cents an hour," he said.

Bus workers make between $15.26 and $21.17 an hour.

Owens said he found that unusual because in most union negotiations, healthcare, which is more expensive, is the hang-up. He said he also found it unusual the strike has continued this long. "Most bus strikes last three or four days," he said.

OTS Vice President Roger Morton agreed that the hang-up was pension and wages.

The last proposal made public by the Hawai'i Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996 called for a five-year contract with unspecified raises, Kahele told an emotional crowd at a State Capitol rally yesterday afternoon. The union's previous proposal was for a three-year contract, with no wage or benefit increases in the first year but 50-cent-an-hour increases in wages and pension benefits the second and third year contingent upon approval from the City Council.

"Instead of going back and opening up the contract in a couple of years we figure we're looking at labor peace for five years and we don't have to go through this again," Kahele told reporters.

OTS president Jim Cowen said "a five-year contract's unusual for this business. I'm used to three." Cowen said a five-year contract "would be better for everybody, depending on the costs." Confalone, chief negotiator for OTS, declined comment.

The company has offered a three-year contract with no wage or pension benefit increases, with the stipulation that the union would be able to bargain for such gains for the third year.

Yesterday's talks were the first since Sept. 10. The union took a four-hour break from negotiations yesterday to hold the rally attended by hundreds of Teamsters and supporters, which included members of other unions.

State Capitol sheriffs estimated a crowd of about 800 people in attendance while Honolulu police estimated the crowd at between 700 and 1,000. The union had been hoping for at least 1,000.

The rally started with supporters lining the length of the South Beretania Street sidewalk from Punchbowl to Richards streets and waving at honking motorists. It ended with a march across Punchbowl to Honolulu Hale where they chanted "What do we want? A contract! When do we want it? Now!" A few also shouted that they wanted an increase in wages.

Their request to speak to Mayor Jeremy Harris, on whom the union has placed much of the blame for the strike, went unheeded. Harris aides said the mayor was out busing commuters as part of the city's makeshift van service designed to blunt the impact of the strike.

In his absence, 144 Teamsters and their supporters signed the mayor's guest book in his office as amused police officers looked on.

Fiery speeches were given by Kahele and other Teamsters, as well as members of other unions.

"Let's show the mayor we're not divided, let's show Cowen we're not divided," Kahele said. As for the union's latest offer, he said, "if they don't like it, we're gonna stay out here."

Other union members were equally as joyous.

"It's rejuvenating," said Ken Low, a Teamster for more than two decades. "Whatever doubts that may have come from the media or the mayor, this scene speaks for itself," he said.

Staff writer Karen Blakeman contributed to this report. Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvetiser.com or at 525-8070.

Correction: Bus drivers and supporters at the rally chanted "What do we want? A contract! When do we want it? Now!" through most of the march. A few also shouted that they wanted an increase in wages. A previous version of this story mischaracterized what was said.