File #: Res 0516-2004    Version: * Name: MTA to negotiate in good faith with the unionized employees of the City's Private Bus Lines.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Transportation
On agenda: 8/12/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to negotiate in good faith with the unionized employees of the City’s private bus lines, to move expeditiously to assume responsibility for service on the bus routes currently franchised by the City to private bus companies, and to assure continuity in that service.
Sponsors: John C. Liu, Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., Gale A. Brewer, Yvette D. Clarke, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Lewis A. Fidler, James F. Gennaro, Allan W. Jennings, Jr., G. Oliver Koppell, Miguel Martinez, Michael C. Nelson, Annabel Palma, James Sanders, Jr., Larry B. Seabrook, David I. Weprin, Helen D. Foster, Robert Jackson
Council Member Sponsors: 17

Res. No. 516

 

Resolution calling upon the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to negotiate in good faith with the unionized employees of the City’s private bus lines, to move expeditiously to assume responsibility for service on the bus routes currently franchised by the City to private bus companies, and to assure continuity in that service.

 

 

By Council Members Liu, Addabbo, Brewer, Clarke, Comrie, Fidler, Gennaro, Jennings, Koppell, Martinez, Nelson, Palma, Sanders, Seabrook, Weprin, Foster and Jackson

 

Whereas, Service on the bus routes currently serviced by private companies under franchises and operating authorities granted by the City of New York is vital to the economic and social life of the boroughs outside of Manhattan; and

Whereas, Resolution of a Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) takeover of responsibility for that service is regrettably overdue; and

Whereas, The employees of Green Bus Lines and Command Bus have languished without a contract since December, 2002; and

Whereas, Approximately 1,400 employees of three other Queens private bus companies have worked without a contract since March, 2003, as have several hundred employees of New York Bus; and

Whereas, The absence of such contracts has placed in jeopardy the health benefits of many of those employees and their dependent family members; and

Whereas, The Council for the City of New York is concerned about the adequacy of funding of the Transport Workers Union Local 100-Queens Private Bus Lines Health Benefits Trust, both currently and retroactively to March, 2003; and

Whereas, The Office of the Mayor should consider placing in escrow all City payments henceforth due to the MTA or its subsidiaries, until such time as the MTA assumes responsibility for the bus routes currently franchised by the City to private bus companies, honors in good faith all existing collective bargaining agreements and enters into negotiations with the relevant private bus lines unions to ensure a fair and effective transition; and

Whereas, The City’s Commissioner of Labor should facilitate negotiations with all unions representing workers of the private franchise bus lines and with each owner of each private franchise bus line with the aim of concluding a labor contract retroactive to the expiration of all prior contracts; and

Whereas, The City of New York has continuing responsibilities and obligations regarding service provided by the private franchised bus lines, and  for the  attendant labor agreements; now, therefore, be it

Resolved that the Council of the City of New York calls upon the  Metropolitan Transportation Authority to negotiate in good faith with the unionized employees of the City’s private bus lines; to move expeditiously to assume responsibility for service on the bus routes currently franchised by the City to private bus companies, and to assure continuity in that service.

RR,  08/04/04, LS 1465