MARTA Union Reps Prepare for Tough Contract Negotiations

Larry Hanley said the union plans to take a stand in Atlanta. He’s head of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents nearly 200,000 workers in the U.S. and Canada.

“We have chosen to bring our executive board to Atlanta because of our deep concern with regards to privatizing the largest transit system in the South.”

Last month, new MARTA chief Keith Parker offered a reform package aimed at addressing deep annual deficits. It includes privatizing some aspects of the agency, like transit for the disabled, as well as significant cutbacks to employee health and pension benefits.

Hanley said the union would take a hard line against those efforts.

“What you’re witnessing here is the micro of the big picture story of wealthy people who have found a ways to suck jobs out of the country and suck money away from workers. This is Wal-Mart on wheels. That’s really what you’re watching.”

Many of the proposed reform measures come directly from an independent audit done by the KPMG consulting firm.

Curtis Howard, head of the union’s local chapter, says the audit relies on flawed data. He says Parker’s use of it isn’t a good sign.

“He’s trying to push our back up against the wall. Trying to let the community and everybody know we’re the enemy and we’re not. It makes it very hard to go in and sit at the table on day one and do something fairly. It’s already unfair. It is what it is.”

MARTA could not be reached for comment for this story but in an interview with WABE last month, Parker said he’s entering negotiations in good faith.

“What we want to come up with is a sustainable plan for everyone and that’s what we’ll approach it on. We’re not talking about anything draconian in any way, shape, or form. I think when we’re done with this the majority of employees will think this is the best route forward, but we’ve got a long way to go.”

Contract negotiations get underway next month.