Members of ATU Local 1395

who work at Escambia County Area Transit

voted last Tuesday to support a Strike (if needed)

In August 2009, ECAT General Manager Ken Gordon sent Union President Mike Lowery a letter stating that County Administrator Bob McLaughlin had not approved funding for pay raises for ECAT employees.  In April 2008, ECAT Management and Union Officers signed a two year agreement which included a 4 1/2 % wage increase effective October 1, 2009.

In September 23, 2009 ECAT GM Ken Gordon made it official by sending a letter to all employees and stating the Company would not honor the pay raise.  On September 25, 2009 the Union filed a grievance which has been denied through two step steps by Veolia Management.

Both parties agreed to meet on Friday, November 13th, 2009.  At that meeting a representative from the Veolia corporate - Tom Hock told the Union that they had "zero" to offer to the Union.  They are stating that a "side agreement" which is attached to the labor contract allows them to not pay the wage increase.  Lowery points out that they are failing to notice the last paragraph in that "side agreement" which states if no agreement is reached the original contract agreement (4 1/2%) is still in affect.

The Union has also filed an unfair labor practice against ECAT/Veolia Management for violating an existing labor agreement and also failure to bargain in good faith.  Plus the Union took a strike vote and the membership voted to allow the Executive Board of Local 1395 to set a Strike date.

See attached link for article in Pensacola News Journal

http://www.pnj.com/article/20091126/NEWS01/911260309