TKC BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!! TENSIONS RISE AMID KANSAS CITY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY UNION NEGOTIATIONS AS ASSAULTS AGAINST OPERATORS INCREASE 600%!!!
This morning our blog community has been tasked with providing news and highlighting the biggest Kansas City transportation issue in the metro that has been downplayed by all other local media.
To wit . . .
KANSAS CITY CITY TRANSIT UNION WORKERS ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES IN THE LATEST ROUND TO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS!!!
In this latest communiqué that our blog community has INTERCEPTED we learn of TENSE negotiations and frustrations from workers who aren't being treated fairly by management.
Here's the word VIA EXCLUSIVE DOCUMENT and representing a REAL LIFE look at Kansas City transit issues that few other news outlets dare to report.
Checkit:
ATU 1287 members Contract Negotiations Update:
We have just finished our second round of contract negotiations with the KCATA wanting spread time premiums, RDO work overtime over 8 hours and a host of guarantees for concessions. The KCATA is wanting to increase part-time operators from 35% to 45 % and would like to turn this property into a part-time job eventually.
Concession bargaining is all this company wants. From our Binding interest arbitration rights to daily overtime Sam & company are not willing to stand up for their employees to the Board of Commissioners no matter how dangerous and difficult this job has become.
Assaults are up 600% from last year on operators. Management is using more of the budget to pay their salaries instead of putting service on the streets for our riders. We have a dedicated tax source and KCATA is not putting service in the Kansas City area that would benefit the ridership as they should.. Down 7 to 10%. Sam would seem to be more interested in keeping his 190K salary plus benefits per year instead of leading this company in the right direction.
Fair bargaining is not within their idea of bargaining.
We must stand strong and let the KCATA Board of Commissioners as well as the riding public know that this management team only looks out for themselves and not interested in increasing runs and ridership or being fair to their employees.
We have ask for financial information of their operational budget that justifies these concessions.
I would like to invite our members to our next negotiations session to observe these individuals as they present their proposals. I hope to educate our members and prepared us for the potential fight we have ahead in arbitration if the KCATA is unwilling to be fair and just.
You are also invited to speak at our Board of Commissioners meeting on increasing ridership and runs throughout the Kansas City Missouri and Greater Kansas City area.
Let's prepare to fight by sticking together and letting management know that we demand a fair and non concessionary contract.
I will update you on all further developments.
President B/A ATU 1287
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Developing . . .
Drives have needed more security for years.
ReplyDeletethey are sitting ducks for attacks because they need to be paying attention to the road.
Sad that we can't make them the priority and focus on real transit.
This is a real wage fight. Would like to see some of our elected officials help out drivers and working people instead of just talking a good game at protests.
DeleteHave seen drivers attacked at least twice this year. Surprised it's not making the news as much. People just don't behave on the bus anymore and it's obvious the drivers aren't getting the support they need.
DeleteWe're a smart city but we can't even pay the bus drivers?
ReplyDeleteWTF?
KCATA has some of the highest per-mile operating costs of any US transit agency, combined one of the lowest per capita revenue streams due to a low fixed city subsidy and almost zero state funding. It's an impossible situation if the union won't allow for more efficient operations.
ReplyDeletePlus the transit union is spending way too much time fighting the non-union Streetcar instead of taking care of its bus operators.
In the meantime we have a free streetcar contributing no money to the KCATA and instead, just robbing them of funds in order to operate.
ReplyDeleteWe should double the pay of the bus drivers!
ReplyDeleteMakinen is going down with his ethics complaint and thank God. Maybe the workers can be taken care of then.
ReplyDeleteIs Frank White's son going down with Makinen?
DeleteKCPD can not protect you.
ReplyDeleteBlack people beat up black bus drivers, so, of course, whitey must pay.
ReplyDeleteKCPD can't protect anybody. Why would bus drivers be any different. If we protect them, before you know it, ordinary citizens will be wanting protection.
ReplyDeleteKCPD can't protect Joco sluts st the Plaza, why should they be able to protect bus drivers?
ReplyDeleteFrank's son is the only class in that joint. He should be running the place. Makinen is a joke and creeps out women.
ReplyDeleteBullshit!
DeleteStatistics coming from people with an ax to grind are often misleading. Saying something has risen by N% is nearly meaningless without more details. Assuming all other factors (for instance the definition of assault and the obligation/opportunity to report the assault) are unchanged, what was the actual probability that the bus driver would be assaulted on a route or work shift?
ReplyDeleteIntercepted? It's on their website. Way to be, Citizen Kane.
ReplyDeleteAlso this is N's attacking other N's so who cares really.
People ought to figure out that Makinen is the best thing that happened to the ATA.
ReplyDeleteLet the bus driver have a AR-15 in a rack to grab and use to deal with those who can't behave.
ReplyDeleteWe need Constitutional carry on buses
Deletei think robbie makinen is doing a great job It is a hard job and he is doinggood work
ReplyDelete1:48 Makinen proved he was no different than any other KC politico when he gave Frank White's son a job. Neither of these two would have their jobs at the ATA if there had been actual competition for the jobs. Neither is remotely qualified.
ReplyDeleteThe KCATA ought to thank their lucky stars that a guy as good as Makinen even would be willing to take the job. That place was a pit before him.
ReplyDeleteIf I could legally carry a gun on the bus I would consider ridding it. Not until then
ReplyDeleteI work at the ATA. Robbie is the best manager we've ever had. Fuck Johnny Walker and the union. All they want to do is line their pocket with our money then fly back to the east coast.
ReplyDeleteFrank White and his piece of shit son are worthless grifters.
ReplyDeleteGreat answer, Stupor Dave, you piece of shit neanderthal.
ReplyDeleteMakinen is too good for the damn ATA. That guy needs to run an organization that appreciated him.
ReplyDeleteWhere's sLIE?
ReplyDeleteJohn Walker can suck me. All he ever did is take my check and lie to all my brothers and sisters. He is bad. We need a new rep.
ReplyDelete2:54 he makes a great point you jobless asshole.
ReplyDeleteThe point ought to be to arm yourselves against these union fat cats.
ReplyDeleteBecause the answer to violence is ALWAYS more violence. Great observation dipshit.
ReplyDeleteThe union boss hogs has gots to go!
ReplyDelete3:47 the answer to violence is to put down those who want to start it in the first place. Now Byron you may fool a few hiding as anonymous but you don't fool me. The only ones wanting violence to begin with are those wanting to do it. The rest of us just have to protect ourselves because pussies like you would rather see us get shot and maybe killed maybe even raped over protecting ourselves.
ReplyDeleteKCPD can not get the job done.
ReplyDeleteLast time I rode the MAX, I noticed they installed this swinging door by the driver's seat, that the operator can open or close. When it's closed, it puts the driver in a "glass cage". I figured this is because of the incidents being talked about. That should work when the driver is in their seat; but the driver has to assist handicapped people get strapped in and out when they get someone in a wheelchair wanting to board.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read about these incidents in times past, I thought "have the drivers arm themselves" with a gun. I don't know how practical or feasible that would be - and I'm sure there's "rules" and "policy" in play when it comes to that.
It's the streetcar's fault!!!!
ReplyDeleteLets hope we don't end up with an all out strike. The KC black market economy would crash if the dregs could not transport all that shop stolen merchandise on the buses.
ReplyDeleteAll the bus drivers should be ARMED and trained to use maximum force legally to defend the passengers and themselves from the dump hood rats that want to cause trouble . Open carry may be a good deterrent to the shit hole inner city youth scholar's hood rats that want to rob rape mugg or kill people on the bus ¡!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless K.C.P.D. They're hiring right now.Sign up for adventure and experience a whole new world.
ReplyDeleteNote ATA acts at times like streetcar is in their jurisdiction and at others like it is not transit at all. Robbie should come down against streetcar expansion for two years
ReplyDeleteAlso, the blatantly political cronyism of the Reardon back scratch and failure to develop an adequate autonomous plan because it went against wishes of the puppet masters means Robbie has not done so well on readying for future
ReplyDeleteAdd in Frank White's son. Not exactly uplifting in terms of meritocracy
ReplyDeleteQuestion is how long will Kansas tolerate this with flat feet
ReplyDelete^^^^ From what you hear anyway.
ReplyDeleteanother mess that KC can't fix.
ReplyDeleteDoes anything really work in this city?