February 8, 2006

Washington, DC Terminal Contract Negotiations Report #1

Local 1700 has a separate collective bargaining agreement with Greyhound that covers members who work in Greyhound’s Washington, DC terminal. Workers there enjoy the protection of a grievance procedure and the guarantee of contractual wage increases, two very important job protections that workers in Greyhound’s non-union facilities lack. Only last week, the Union won reinstatement for a ticket agent that Greyhound had unfairly fired.

Negotiations for a new contract began today in Washington, DC. Ed Hodges, Marquis Adams, and Latosha Graham serve on the Union negotiating committee. They were joined at the negotiations by Local 1700 President Bruce Hamilton, Region 1 Vice President/Assistant Business Agent James Kennedy, and ATU International Vice President Larry Hanley.

The Union proposed significant improvements in wages and benefits, as well as beneficial changes in contract language.

The Company counter-proposed wage increases that total only 4% over three years. This on the week that Greyhound CEO sent letters to employees thanking us for making the company profitable once again. The Company has so far rejected all of the Union’s other economic proposals.

We will be back at the bargaining table again tomorrow morning.