If anyone had any hopes that Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) would take a tough stand against The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) as new contract talks begin, think again.
In a buckling that’s one for books, the Post-Gazette reports that PRT — whose legendary out-of-whack costs have been documented for years by the Allegheny Institute — reached agreement with ATU Local 85 to pay union workers time-and-a-half for regular time and double-time for overtime or extra time worked during the three-day NFL Draft.
For doing their jobs. Organized profligacy never had a better friend. Worse, the deal was cut in secret. Last month. And PRT wasn’t about to give up its details voluntarily. The P-G had to file a Right-to-Know request to shake out the smelly bill of particulars.
Per Ed Blazina’s P-G account (and, we caution readers, a read between the lines is sickening):
“Ross Nicotero, president and business agent for the union, said PRT created special service for the draft, so the union thought a special agreement was needed to provide that service. …
“’We want to make sure service shows up and the city can put its best foot forward for this event,’ Mr. Nicotero said. ‘It’s the biggest event we’ve ever had in this city. I think we’re trying to make sure things are covered.’
He presumably said this with a poker face.
Continued the P-G story:
“Mr. Nicotero said the agency currently has about 1,050 bus and light rail operators and is budgeted for at least 100 more. With the draft expected to be an extremely busy time, Mr. Nicotero said, veteran employees could use their seniority rights to take time off rather than work, so the increased pay is incentive to keep them working.”
The implication is crystal clear: Pay us more or many of us will call off.
But wait — the shakedown could have been even worse:
ATU’s Nicotero told the P-G he’s disappointed that the extra pay only will be available to employees directly related to service and doesn’t include employees such as mechanics and certain office employees represented by the union.
“I have 1,600 of my 2,200 people who are getting extra pay,” the union chief said. “It should be all of them, but PRT decided to pick and choose who can get more money. I can’t hold out and not take the money for those people.”
What, no “special agreement” tribute payments for employee dependents and pets?
Oh, and wait, Nicotero told the P-G he hopes the PRT doesn’t use this nod-nod, wink-wink tacit threat of call-offs against the union during new contract talks that begin the week of April 26 to replace the current deal that expires June 30.
It’s like a bank robber telling the tied-up bank president to “Please, take no offense to this stick-up.”
And it matters not one iota that the money to cover extra service is coming not only from PRT’s coffers and other quasi-government agencies but even Sheetz and the Pittsburgh Foundation. Organized labor extortion is extortion, no matter the victim. Sugar-coating this kind of thuggish behavior is not acceptable.
PTR contract negotiators had better grow a spine and quickly. Or taxpayers are going to be taken for a very expensive ride yet again.
Colin McNickle is communications and marketing director at the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy (cmcnickle@alleghenyinstitute.org).
