Thursday, March 20, 2014
Thursday 2:25 p.m. update: Drivers' union presents counter-offer.
If labor and management continue to bicker, can anyone force the Chittenden County Transportation Authority bus drivers’ strike to end?
CCTA received a counteroffer from the union this morning and will likely meet with drivers this weekend, agency spokeswoman Meredith Birkett said. Birkett said the agency is reviewing the union's proposal this afternoon.
If the two sides can't arrive at a negotiated settlement, there appear to be three potential paths to pushing the groups to settle a strike now moving into its fourth day. All have significant complications and are relatively untested.
To begin with, experts say, there are two possible legal solutions: The Vermont Labor Relations Board or a Vermont Superior Court judge could be asked by one of the warring parties to intervene. And in the halls of state government, the Agency of Transportation — which provides much of CCTA’s funding — might be able to exercise a provision in its contract with the nonprofit bus agency to cancel the agreement and hire another entity to provide mass transit in Chittenden County.
“We’re watching this hour by hour. I’m not going to set a deadline, but certainly we’re going to have to see continuous signs of progress and movement towards a resolution,” said state transportation chief Brian Searles. “I’m very concerned, the governor is very concerned, and we’re watching it closely.”
None of these alternatives is simple. But, then, neither is the CCTA strike, which is occuring under a little-tested state law governing labor disputes.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Seven Days co-editor Jeff Good is leaving the Burlington weekly to return to the New Hampshire-based Newspapers of New England, he told staff this week.
Good will serve as executive editor of the family-owned company's four western Massachusetts papers: the Daily Hampshire Gazette, the Recorder, the Amherst Bulletin and the Valley Advocate. Prior to joining Seven Days in October, Good served as editor of the company's Lebanon, N.H.-based Valley News.
"The job I found myself doing at Seven Days was a lot like the one I did 13 years ago as a news editor learning how to juggle story assignments," Good explained. "At this point in my career, I'm most interested in going deep, working on big-picture management and writing projects. That's what this new job offers."
Good will serve as executive editor of the family-owned company's four western Massachusetts papers: the Daily Hampshire Gazette, the Recorder, the Amherst Bulletin and the Valley Advocate. Prior to joining Seven Days in October, Good served as editor of the company's Lebanon, N.H.-based Valley News.
"The job I found myself doing at Seven Days was a lot like the one I did 13 years ago as a news editor learning how to juggle story assignments," Good explained. "At this point in my career, I'm most interested in going deep, working on big-picture management and writing projects. That's what this new job offers."
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Mark Davis
Striking CCTA bus drivers man a picket line on Church Street this afternoon. They say they plan to maintain the protest every day until they agree on a new contract.
Striking bus drivers are preparing a counter-offer for Chittenden County Transportation Authority management that could be ready as soon as Wednesday, a union spokesman said Tuesday.
In an interview, bus driver Rob Slingerland said officials from the Teamsters Local 57 union are putting the finishing touches on a proposed contract and are hoping to soon meet with CCTA to try and resolve the strike, which is now in its second day.
Slingerland made his comments while taking a brief break from a picket line at the intersection of Church and Cherry Streets that he says drivers plan to maintain every day until a deal is reached. While around 50 drivers manned the line at times Monday, Slingerland said drivers will be taking shifts in the coming days — Eight drivers were present early this afternoon.
“We’re out here upbeat,” Slingerland said. “We’ll be out here all day. It’s worth the effort. We’re determined. We’ve reached the point of no return, and we’re (tired) of the way we are being treated.”
Monday, March 17, 2014
As he prepares for a third run for the state's top office, Gov. Peter Shumlin has accumulated more than a million dollars in his campaign account, according to documents filed Monday with the secretary of state's office.
Since Vermont politicians were last required to disclose their fundraising and spending activities in July 2013, Shumlin has raised nearly $329,000 — the majority of which came in the form of large contributions from out-of-state donors. In that same period, the governor's reelection campaign spent just $20,000.
In a written statement, campaign treasurer Kate O'Connor said that the incumbent's fundraising prowess "demonstrates continued strong support for Gov. Shumlin's efforts to strengthen and protect Vermont's quality of life."
Perhaps just as important for Shumlin, Monday's filings provided no new clues as to whether any formidable candidates will challenge the governor this November. Only perennial candidate Emily Peyton has said she'll run for governor — this year as a Republican.
Since Vermont politicians were last required to disclose their fundraising and spending activities in July 2013, Shumlin has raised nearly $329,000 — the majority of which came in the form of large contributions from out-of-state donors. In that same period, the governor's reelection campaign spent just $20,000.
In a written statement, campaign treasurer Kate O'Connor said that the incumbent's fundraising prowess "demonstrates continued strong support for Gov. Shumlin's efforts to strengthen and protect Vermont's quality of life."
Perhaps just as important for Shumlin, Monday's filings provided no new clues as to whether any formidable candidates will challenge the governor this November. Only perennial candidate Emily Peyton has said she'll run for governor — this year as a Republican.
Tags: campaign fundraising , Shumlin , Image , Web Only
Alicia Freese
Christina Hart, left, and Zoe Gagnon, right, share a taxi ride from their jobs at the University Mall home to downtown Burlington Monday evening.
As St. Patrick's Day revelers filtered onto Church Street yesterday evening, they stumbled upon a scene that may have been more raucous than the one they had just left behind: Roughly 50 people marching in a circle at Church and Cherry streets, shouting "Union jobs are here to stay," and "Get up, get down, Burlington is a union town."
As the first day of their strike wore on, Chittenden County Transportation Authority bus drivers continued to express displeasure with management — and their would-be customers began voicing their own opinions.
Winooski resident John Satenstein, who usually relies on CCTA for most of his travel, had to walk to downtown Burlington for an appointment. But, as he surveyed the picket line on Church Street, he said he hoped that drivers would prevail in their quest for a more favorable contract.
"I believe in their concerns about working conditions," Satenstein said. "Their employers should be supportive of them. It's an issue of the people."
Others offered a less generous view. Gary Showers usually takes an 8:30 p.m. bus from his home in Burlington's North End to the Hannaford grocery store on Shelburne Road, where he stocks shelves during the overnight shift before returning on the 6:30 a.m. bus. Yesterday, Powers walked back and forth to work in frigid temperatures and said he was upset that drivers — who make far more than his $10-an-hour wage — had left him stranded.
"It's frustrating. How do you get to work with this crap?" Showers said as he watched the evening protest. "They're driving people that are poor. I don't make that much."
Alicia Freese
CCTA bus drivers picketing on Church Street after going on strike over failed contract negotiations.
The long-discussed, much-threatened bus drivers' strike is on.
Instead of ferrying thousands of workers, students and families across Central Vermont, drivers from the Chittenden County Transportation Authority are spending the day walking picket lines and attending downtown rallies.
After voting down the agency's most recent contract offer last week 54-0 drivers carried through with today's threatened strike, shutting down nearly all of CCTA's routes, which ferry roughly 10,000 passengers daily. Drivers had backed away from a previous strike threat earlier in the month.
Bus stops in Burlington and surrounding communities stood mostly empty. Charlotte Sando, an exchange student at Champlain College who hails from Norway, was facing a 30-minute walk back to her Winooski home after class. Sando said Burlington is much colder than she’s used to, and given today’s frigid weather, “I’d rather take the bus.”
Riders have also been documenting their commuting woes on social media. Katie Mobley, who works at the Community College of Vermont in Winooski, tweeted that students “are scrambling to find rides to make it to class.” Kristine Harootunian posted on Facebook that “my husband biked to Skirack for work this morning. Said his toes nearly froze off.”
Michael Blood, a junior at University of Vermont, was waiting at a stop on South Winooski Street. Blood takes the bus to class most days to avoid the 15-minute walk uphill from his apartment to campus. He’d forgotten there was a strike but when reminded, he took the news in stride and he said found the drivers’ requests reasonable. “I feel like compensating for basic human needs is important,” said Blood, referencing their complaints that shifts are too long and don’t allow for bathroom breaks.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Oliver Parini
Paul LeClair has worked for CCTA for 21 years.
We can't seem to go more than a few hours without a new salvo being fired in the feud between the Chittenden County Transportation Authority and its bus drivers. This morning, the CCTA Board of Commissioners has urged bus drivers to reconsider their decision to reject arbitration as a way to move beyond the contract impasse.
Yesterday, bus drivers — who are threatening to strike on Monday — dismissed pleas from both CCTA and Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger to settle their differences with legally binding arbitration.
CCTA's board, which has up until now remained silent in the dispute, is urging drivers to reconsider. CCTA is governed by a 13-member volunteer board. Members are appointed by communities served by the bus lines.
"The CCTA Board supports binding arbitration as a method to bring both parties back to the table and to prevent the disruption of the public transportation services so many Vermonters rely on every day," said CCTA board chairman Tom Buckley of Winooski. "The Union’s refusal of binding arbitration prevents the parties from engaging in a fair and neutral process that would prevent a strike and reach a resolution.”
Tags: CCTA , Transportation , Image , Web Only
Thursday, March 13, 2014
As the Vermont Republican Party's sole statewide officeholder, Lt. Gov. Phil Scott has a bit of a target on his back. But despite Democratic desires to oust him, no candidates have yet emerged to challenge him this November.
That could change Saturday, when Democratic activist John Bauer plans to discuss a possible LG bid at a meeting of the Vermont Democratic Party's state committee in Montpelier.
"I'm considering running for lieutenant governor," Bauer said Thursday afternoon.
But that's about all he would say. Bauer said he wanted to address party leaders directly before publicly elaborating on his intentions.
That could change Saturday, when Democratic activist John Bauer plans to discuss a possible LG bid at a meeting of the Vermont Democratic Party's state committee in Montpelier.
"I'm considering running for lieutenant governor," Bauer said Thursday afternoon.
But that's about all he would say. Bauer said he wanted to address party leaders directly before publicly elaborating on his intentions.
Tags: Phil Scott , John Bauer , Republican , Democrat , Web Only
In his nearly six years as speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, Shap Smith (D-Morristown) has earned a reputation for pushing his priorities through his Democrat-dominated chamber.
And unlike Montpelier's other top Ds — Gov. Peter Shumlin and Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell (D-Windsor) — Smith says he supports controversial legislation that would require businesses to provide employees up to seven days of paid sick leave each year.
So why, after months of lobbying by liberal interest groups, is the bill stuck in the House Appropriations Committee and unlikely to get a vote on the House floor? Why won't Smith, who frames it as "a public health issue," use his reputed legislative prowess to push the thing through?
"I don't think the landscape right at the moment is conducive to passing the legislation," the speaker says. "I think it's informed by what happened with regard to Vermont Health Connect and the fact that we required employers with fewer than 50 employees to go into the [federally mandated health insurance exchange] this past fall. And I think that, given all the nervousness around that and other issues— I don't think the landscape is working for passage of it this year."
And unlike Montpelier's other top Ds — Gov. Peter Shumlin and Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell (D-Windsor) — Smith says he supports controversial legislation that would require businesses to provide employees up to seven days of paid sick leave each year.
So why, after months of lobbying by liberal interest groups, is the bill stuck in the House Appropriations Committee and unlikely to get a vote on the House floor? Why won't Smith, who frames it as "a public health issue," use his reputed legislative prowess to push the thing through?
"I don't think the landscape right at the moment is conducive to passing the legislation," the speaker says. "I think it's informed by what happened with regard to Vermont Health Connect and the fact that we required employers with fewer than 50 employees to go into the [federally mandated health insurance exchange] this past fall. And I think that, given all the nervousness around that and other issues— I don't think the landscape is working for passage of it this year."
Tags: sick leave , Shap Smith , Image , Web Only
Despite its efforts to be seen as a grassroots political advocacy organization, Campaign for Vermont has long been perceived as the vanity project of its founder and principal donor, retired Wall Street executive Bruce Lisman.
But as Lisman pulls back from CFV, newly hired executive director Cyrus Patten says he hopes to prepare the group for a post-Lisman existence. Patten's hiring, which was announced Thursday, follows last week's news that former Vermont Public Service Board chairwoman Louise McCarren has replaced Lisman as CFV's chair.
"Bruce is still the on the board, but he's not the chair. He's just kind of an active participant," Patten says. "I think he realizes he's done the heavy lifting in the beginning and it really has been gaining traction. He realizes that this is truly a grassroots-driven campaign, and he wants to give it the legs and freedom to be that."
But as Lisman pulls back from CFV, newly hired executive director Cyrus Patten says he hopes to prepare the group for a post-Lisman existence. Patten's hiring, which was announced Thursday, follows last week's news that former Vermont Public Service Board chairwoman Louise McCarren has replaced Lisman as CFV's chair.
"Bruce is still the on the board, but he's not the chair. He's just kind of an active participant," Patten says. "I think he realizes he's done the heavy lifting in the beginning and it really has been gaining traction. He realizes that this is truly a grassroots-driven campaign, and he wants to give it the legs and freedom to be that."
Tags: Lisman , Campaign for Vermont , Image , Web Only