By Sheri McWhirter
TRAVERSE CITY -- Emotions over contract talks for local transit authority workers are heating up as time winds down on their current contract.
The Bay Area Transportation Authority is negotiating a new employment contract with union workers who belong to the Teamsters State, County and Municipal Workers Local 214. Employees' current 3-year contract expires at year's end.
Tom Menzel, BATA's executive director, said he's aiming for a major change in employees' pay rates by tying them to changes in state, federal and local tax revenue. If revenues go up, employee wages would go up at the same percentage rate. Should revenues decrease, so would salaries, he said.
The expiring contract includes a 3 percent annual pay hike for employees.
"If you don't have the money to pay for it, you have to lay people off and those at the top end get a 3 percent increase," Menzel said. "My concept keeps everyone working. We can only pay people based on our ability to pay."
There are 58 bus drivers and mechanics in the union, and 12 dispatchers.
The union purchased an advertisement in Thursday's Record-Eagle accusing Menzel of "trying to scare the public into thinking that there may be a strike to elicit negative feelings against the Union ... ." The ad was signed by Sheryl Langdon, the union's business representative.
Langdon is out of town and could not be reached for comment.
Menzel said the union is wrong about his intentions, calling the ad "extremely disappointing and unprofessional." He did confirm he would fire any striking employees, though he doesn't believe it will happen.
"If they strike, I must keep the buses running. I would have to replace them. I don't have a choice," he said.
Union steward and negotiator Bob Hopkins Jr. wouldn't comment on specifics about negotiations, but confirmed talks are under way.
"They are slowly moving forward, but it's going to take time," he said.
Menzel said his idea to tie employee salaries to revenues is an effort to improve the overall operation.
"We need more flexibility within the contract so we can create a new business model to provide additional value to not only the public, but other public entities that may need our help, like public school districts," Menzel said.
A mediator could be called in if negotiations bog down, Menzel said. Employees would continue to work under the current pact.
Hopkins, a BATA bus driver, said he doesn't expect a strike to become an issue as public employees cannot legally walk out.
"We feel we employees are the heart of the company and we're there to serve the public," he said.
