Regional Transit Authority "RTA" of New Orleans did NOT honor the agreement with Bus Drivers for Hurricane IDA
ATU Local 1560 and RTA has a SIGNED agreement for hurricane IDA pay.
RTA CUTTING 15-20 BUSES A DAY! ................please do not get angry with the Rideline Operators and the Bus Driver. CALL the City of New Orleans.
BUSES ARE CROWED! ............ please do not get angry with the Rideline Operators and the Bus Driver. CALL the City of New Orleans
Background
Bus drivers, members of ATU L. 1560 are native New Orleanais. As gentrification and income inequality continue to ravage the Black community this union stands as a beacon to the power of collective struggle of Black workers to obtain living wage jobs with benefits. 400 unionized RTA drivers, dispatchers, clerks, tellers, routers, ride line operators, reservationist , cleaners and dispatcher have also demanded more buses, routes and greater frequency especially for the Black working-class neighborhoods of New Orleans.
The RTA Board is non-elected and resisted Covid-19 related health and safety for drivers. Under the leadership of the first woman union president, Valerie Jefferson, demands for hazard pay and safer conditions for drivers and riders were fought for and won. After Ida struck, President Jefferson put out the call for drivers to come in for emergency help to communities. Putting aside their own emergencies and families’, drivers worked 12-hour days to both transport vulnerable seniors and saved lives by using buses as cooling centers. President Jefferson is a 27-year driver, continued to drive a bus after her election.
After Ida the union negotiated a written agreement for drivers to get lodging, meals and a hurricane bonus. RTA CEO Alex Wiggins tried to renege on this agreement. In her position as union president Jefferson talked to Wiggins and demanded enforcement of the agreement. Wiggins retaliated by firing Jefferson. Wiggins now illegally refuses to acknowledge Jefferson as a union representative. Currently the union is in contract negotiations with RTA and clearly Wiggins wants to weaken the union by this illegal internal interference. Wiggins is using a common union busting tactic.
Who is Alex Wiggins? RTA Commissioners Have a Lot to Answer for.
Wiggins was hired in 2019 at a salary of $225,000. He comes from Los Angeles Metro as Chief of Security. L.A. lawyers conducted an investigation into complaints of hostile work environment, sexual abuse and retaliation. The investigation concluded that Wiggin had”engaged in abusive, humiliating, demeaning behavior…. And the agency was riven with racial tension and low morale.” Six days after the County’s lawyer told him “Appropriate action will be taken” Wiggins contacted RTA NOLA. Before that Wiggins was hired by Metra, a commuter train service in Chicago. Wiggins was put on administrative leave ‘pending a review of certain personnel matters in which he was involved.:” Wiggins resigned.
Yet RTA hired him. Quickly things turned ugly. An RTA NOLA chief administrator questioned Wiggins why he had told a vendor about an upcoming contract before others knew and then hired them. Wiggins fired him and RTA paid him $140,000 to settle a lawsuit against Wiggins and the RTA.
WorkWeek On 9-22-21 New Orleans ATU 1560 President Valerie Jefferson Fights Firing & For Justice
