INTERVIEW – JACKIE JETER – president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 (aka the DC Metro union)
>> Washington Metro, union leaders meet amid strike threat. (Washington Times) — WASHINGTON (AP) – Leaders of the Washington Metro’s largest union have met with Metro officials in the first meeting since workers overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike, but little appears to have been resolved. News outlets report that officials with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority met with leaders of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 at a secret location on Tuesday, following the union’s vote Sunday. Striking is forbidden under Metro’s bargaining agreement with the union, but workers have been without a contract since July 2016. Union spokesman David Stephen said in a statement that there was “no change in either part’s position.” WMATA released a statement calling the meeting “a constructive and frank discussion.” The transit system carries about 1 million passengers daily.
> Metro: Dialogue ‘ongoing’ after union strike threat. (WTOP) — WASHINGTON — Metro and its largest union remain in discussions after the union voted Sunday to let its leaders call a strike, Metro said Monday afternoon. “The Authority does not want customers to suffer from additional service interruptions,” Metro said in a statement. “Dialogue is ongoing between Management and Union officials to identify common ground on these matters, while keeping Metro safe, reliable and affordable for the region.” Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 has expressed concerns about Metro’s plans to hire more contractors and changes to some work rules, but has not been specific about what it wants from Metro in order to avoid a strike. Local 689 President Jackie Jeter said the “last straw” that triggered the strike authorization vote was changes for custodians, which moved shifts from other parts of the system to rail stations. The union has also called for the ouster of General Manager Paul Wiedefeld, and remains concerned about his effort to eliminate pensions for new employees and to limit cost increases.
