More than 135 employees of the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) are on strike amid contract negotiations, according to an announcement.
The workers are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1548-Plymouth. The strike began the morning of Monday, Sept. 29, and workers will stay out until an agreement is reached. The strike picket lines will be outside GATRA headquarters at 10 Oak St, Taunton, the announcement from ATU sent Sunday evening read.
“GATRA has left us with no other choice but to walk off the job. We want the citizens of Taunton, Attleboro and surrounding communities to know we did not want to strike. We hope they stand with us. These workers who keep Taunton moving have been ignored for far too long by GATRA management,” said Local President/Business Agent Chuck Ryan. “GATRA put an insulting offer on the table, and our members voted it down. It’s clear GATRA has no interest in giving our members a fair contract and providing our riders a reliable, safe, and affordable transit system.”
According to a statement on its web site, GATRA had been notified about the strike, which will impact drivers, call takers, mechanics and other staff employed by GATRA’s operator, Kiessling of Attleboro (KOA).
“Due to the strike, there will be service disruptions,” a company statement read. “There will be limited service on fixed route, ADA Paratransit and Dial-A-Ride services run by operations out of GATRA’s Taunton and Wareham offices.”
The announcement added that if a trip has been cancelled, riders will receive a notification. Services not affected include:
- GATRA’s PT-1 transportation and other transportation provided by GATRA through contracts with the state.
- GATRA GO United, Explore, and Seacoast.
- Dial-A-Ride service run by Councils on Aging (COAs).
- Long distance medical transportation programs.
- Medway T Shuttle, Middleborough Downtown Shuttle, Gateway Link, and Wareham-New Bedford Connection.
GATRA Is a public transportation provider for 30 communities, including North Attleborough.
In a statement issued Monday morning, GATRA said that KOA had presented the union with a “generous offer that responds in earnest to their concerns about wages, benefits, and the creation of more rewarding job opportunities.”
The company said that the offer included a 16% wage increase over three years, while the union wanted 21%. The company added that KOA management has never refused to negotiate and has always been willing to meet. The last meeting between the two sides was held on Sept. 25, and included the 16% wage increase.
“If the Amalgamated Transit Union leaders are truly concerned with the best interests
of their members, they will recommend this offer for a vote to enable drivers, maintenance employees, call-takers and dispatchers/schedulers to consider items they brought forth prior to mediation,” the statement from GATRA read. “If Amalgamated Transit Union leaders are interested in pursuing their own political agenda, then they will prolong the strike.For the sake of our team members and customers, GATRA sincerely hopes they will do the right thing.”
The union has been in contract talks with GATRA since June. As contract talks continued, the announcement read, workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, if necessary, about a month ago.
“Our Union and our members at Local 1548 are fed up with the disrespect GATRA has shown them. We have members who are living out of their cars because the pay is so low they can’t afford a place to live,” said ATU International President John Costa. “They are essential workers that the Taunton, Attleboro and surrounding communities rely on day to get to work, school, and the doctor. GATRA can end this strike by giving these frontline workers the fair and just contract they deserve.”