By: Diane Benjamin
Connect Transit employees, who are members of the Amalgamated Transit Union, have been working without a contract since June 30. Public comment at the Connect Transit Board meeting featured the union’s president and financial secretary/treasurer. Union members also attended respectfully and held signs.
According to the speakers, the Connect Transit attorney has failed to negotiate in good faith. Everything the union presented appears to have been dismissed, as the attorney prefers arbitration.
The Union President said Connect management has been making decisions without input from the employees who have to live with the consequences. She specifically mentioned the purchase of electric buses from a startup company, Proterra. She also pointed out that the proposed downtown Bloomington transfer station is located on a hill and poses safety concerns for operators. Of course, we only heard one side, but the union members were more than respectful.
Just hit Play to hear the two comments. Neither City Manager bothered to show up. Most of the time shown on the video was spent in executive session. There’s more to report from this meeting — stay tuned.
isn`t the unelected city employee running the town of Normal on that board ?
Of course!
Just out of curiosity I wonder what the connect transit employees union bargains for when your employer loses over a million dollars a month.
Just wondering!!!
let ’em walk. Connect Transit drivers are way overpaid + benefits as it is. Drivers easily replaced w new applicants wishing they could get such a cush gig.
They always have openings
You should thank me. I am so bored all day, it’s hard to stay awake. No one to talk to with any brain cells as my mind turns to much. I drive around this stinkin’ city, bumpy tee bump bump bump. Can’t even drink a coffee without spilling. I loathe the bike nazis dashing out in front of me and flipping me off. I pray I hit one. Cars drive by and little kids in the back stick their tongues out at me. Sometimes adults curse me. Let alone no one ever says thank you. Oh woe is me. EIght hours a day I do this, forty hours a week and I HATE my job. Every day I ask myself if it is worth it. Can I do this for 30 years to get that pension? Can I? I don’t know but it ain’t easy. Anybody out there want to trade jobs, I’m listening.