Seniority rights for bidding new work and vacancies restored, and Extra Board drivers allowed to bid days off.

The new contract for Greyhound drivers and mechanics went into effect in June, although some provisions did not go into effect right away.

Bidding Rights

One of the Bargaining Committee’s demands was to restore full seniority rights for bidding new work and permanent vacancies. The company resisted that demand throughout negotiations, claiming that they did not have adequate resources to make such a change, and it wasn’t included in the miserable Feb. 15 “final offer” that the Executive Board rejected and the members voted down.

Full bidding rights remained on top of the Bargaining Committee’s list of workrule demands, and the company finally saw that they had to find a way to make fair bidding work — thanks to the tremendous work of the Contract Action Committee and the members’ strong backing.

But management would only agree to implement the change if they could conduct all bidding (hold-downs, temporary and permanent vacancies, and new work) electronically. Both sides agreed to a 4-month timetable to implement the new language, so the new provision didn’t go into effect until Oct. 22, four months after ratification.

Extra Board Drivers

Another improvement in the new contract allows Extra Board drivers to bid days off if they choose (Article O-2(h)). Greyhound continually claimed during negotiations that it could not ensure that such a plan could work, but finally agreed to conduct a 180-day trial in two mutually agreeable locations.

Local 1700 has made proposals since ratification for conducting the trial but, as Solidarity Road goes to press, the company and union have not been able to agree on terms. Regardless of where and how the trial takes place, no Extra Board driver will ever be required to bid days off.

The union has also experienced several delays in producing the new contract. There should be a book in each member’s hands by the time you read this. If you did not receive a copy, please contact the union office at (212) 721-2077.