Despite contract agreement, ATU continues pushing for better protection on county buses

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Despite agreeing on a new three-year contract with Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS), union members will still rally for their safety.

On Monday, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998 members voted to accept the most recent contract offer from MCTS.

At previous rallies, the union expressed safety concerns. One operator told CBS 58 she is scared to go to work.

"It's really scary. You don't want to ever be in your car and feel like somebody could just punch you in the face. That's my biggest concern. People really get mad over the smallest things," Tracie Bumper said. "We're supposed to just inform [passengers] how much the fare is, like if you say that, you may get punched in your face."

This new contract, union members say, failed to address those safety concerns.

"The company sells the good story, but they forgot to mention safety. Which I think is the number one key for us," ATU Local 998 Vice President Michael Brown said.

"The turnover rate here is unbelievable for a job that pays this well, this good, with a pension and health insurance. Why are these people leaving?"

Brown said he feels the lack of protection for bus operators is a major factor in employee turnover. He also tells CBS 58 he has had conversations with MCTS about him talking to the media about alleged assaults on bus drivers. Despite these conversations, Brown is prepared to keep discussing what drivers face on Milwaukee County routes.

"I'm not backing down. We've been having these meetings; I've been arguing about. I take it real personal," he said.

Brown feels the company is sweeping these assaults under the rug, including one he claims happened to him, which he said was later classified as a "minor incident" by MCTS.

ATU Local 998 President Donell Shorter feels that the more stories that are told will shed light on their daily safety struggles.

"I believe a lot of people understand some of the things we're going through. I think the county board is serious about changing the perception of transit and actually protects not just our operators, but the customers on the vehicles, too," Shorter said.

ATU plans to hold more rallies to continue pushing for better safety on county buses.