Source: DANIEL SLIM / Getty
Washington, D.C. bus and train system known as WMATA and the Subway system known as “Metro” has been feuding with Management for a few years now and working without a contract.
It was widely thought that Metro would go on strike real soon after the Union authorize that Metro could strike. But just yesterday, Metro’s largest union said that there will not be a strike this week but they did outline their demands for the first time since the Union authorized a vote.
A person familiar with this week’s discussions said the focus has been on changes to custodians’ job assignments; Metro’s policies on sick leave, absenteeism and discipline; and new random background checks for workers.
Here are the changes that the Union and their workers want from METRONo suspensions for workers who came in late last Thursday as part of what appeared to be a coordinated “late out”
- A halt to work location changes for custodians until an arbitration panel rules on a challenge to it that is already pending;
- Quicker resolutions of grievances and more strict compliance with the collective bargaining agreement;
- Reduced private contracting for things such as bus operations at the new Cinder Bed Road garage and certain jobs along the new Silver Line to and beyond Dulles International Airport;
- An end to the new random background check policy for Metro workers that began this month;
- An end to job cuts when positions are vacant;
- “Stop unnecessary terminations”;
- “Meet and confer with the union about the WMATA absenteeism policy,” which requires 72-hours notice for the use of sick leave in many cases;
- “Immediately address the flawed” new pay and timekeeping system used to clock in and clock out;
- Meet and confer with the union about a new disciplinary policy;
- Address problems tied to a change with Metro’s privatizing of certain medical oversight and checks; and
- Allow insurance to decide which workers are eligible for long-term disability rather than solely the medical department.
