Dayton ATU Local 1385 Bus Drivers and Mechanics Plan Strike on January 9

Bus drivers and mechanics of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1385 have announced their intent to strike, effectively bringing public transportation in the Dayton region to a halt. 

The union gave the RTA notice today (December 28) indicating their intent to strike at 12:01 AM on January 9th.

“We are truly disappointed by the union’s decision to strike which will leave thousands of our region’s citizens unable to travel to work or access medical and social needs,” RTA CEO Mark Donaghy said.

There are 466 ATU members which represents drivers and maintenance workers. RTA’s final contract offer included a 2 percent lump sum payment upon ratification of the contract, 2 percent wage increases each year for the next three years, and a 10.5 percent wage increase for senior Project Mobility operators.

The average bus operator earned $62,996 in 2015 while the average maintenance employee earned $69,190. As a public agency RTA’s employees also receive a benefit package far superior to and more costly than private sector workers.

“Just last week a revised offer with three different economic options was presented to the union leadership and we have not received any formal response from them regarding it.  The RTA offer to the ATU 1385 members is fair,” Donaghy said. “It represents the limit of what we can provide for the members of Local 1385.” 

RTA management remains hopeful that an agreement can be reached before the threatened strike but at this point preparations are underway to secure RTA facilities and equipment.  Of utmost concern to RTA are the thousands of local citizens who will be stranded without access to jobs and medical needs because of the union’s decision to strike as well as regional employers who count on RTA to provide this critical public service.