The money-saving potential contract emphatically rejected by the Muni operators union last week might stick after all. Arbitrator Carol Vendrillo, who was brought in per the Prop G scripture passed last year, ruled that the contract between the SFMTA and the union members must be adopted. Also per Prop G, Vendrillo's decision is binding and will take effect on July 1st. Earlier this year the Muni operatros voted to grant their union president the power to authorize a strike. Whether Union execs will brandish that power has yet to be seen, but the Union did hold a special meeting yesterday evening to talk about the decision.
According to the Examiner, the emergency Union meeting was not called with the intention to approve a strike, but there was the possibility the topic might be discussed. In fact, the topic had already come up yesterday morning when a group of union members calling themselves the Strike Education Committee claimed the arbitrator's decision could cause a shutdown. So far, no work stoppage has been planned or called for by Union management who support Vendrillo's position and the terms of the contract.
Still, it sounds like there's some dissent brewing among some of the Muni drivers. The Chronicle overheard "visibly irritated" operators shouting "You don't represent us" at TWU president Rafael Cabrera.
SFMTA, on the other hand, is obviously OK with the decision. They figure the deal will save the agency a cool $41 million over three years. That estimate is a revision of the numbers they've been tossing around that have ranged anywhere from $21 to $46 million.
In her decision, Vendrillo wrote:
"Further discussion made it clear ... that if any provision of the [agreement] were altered, the careful equilibrium that the parties had established in that agreement would be upset, and virtually all aspects ... would have to be re-opened."So, in other words, it would be a big pain in the ass to renegotiate, so let's just accept the contract we've got in front of us, OK?
[SFExaminer]
[SFAppeal]
[Chronicle]
