Recordpub.com - No talks set as bus strike continues PARTA running; union pleased with support

By Mike Sever

Record-Courier staff writer

The strike between union drivers and the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority goes into its third day today with no talks on the horizon.

The PARTA board of directors is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at PARTA headquarters. The status of the strike and negotiations is expected to be discussed in executive session.

The sticking point continues to be "fair share," a mandatory fee on nonunion drivers paid to the union and to be collected by PARTA.

In the meantime, striking members of Local 037 of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, continue their picket lines in front of PARTA's Summit Road headquarters in Brimfield. Tuesday, strikers had set up tents and grills and were waving to passing motorists who honked their horns in support.

"We've had great community support. People are bringing food" to the picketers, said Trina Molnar, OAPSE field representative.

"We've had retired union members (from UAW) come out and walk the line with us," Molnar said.

Inside PARTA, a spokesman said all routes are being serviced.

"Everything's going great today," said spokesman Frank Hairston.

He said a couple more full-time drivers crossed the picket line Tuesday than on Monday, when 15 full-time drivers did so.

To fill the gaps left by strikers, Hairston said PARTA is using management personnel and qualified contract drivers on the public routes.

"All our contracted people have everything they need," including commercial drivers licenses, medical requirements, criminal background checks and safe driving records.

He said Kent State student drivers are not driving any routes other than their usual Campus Bus Service routes.

PARTA has about 74 drivers (50 part-time and 24 full-time).

PARTA gets about $3 million a year from a quarter-percent sales tax approved by county voters in 2001. It is one of the few transit systems in Ohio to have a continuing voted tax, according to PARTA. Hairston said the voters recognized the necessity and quality of service provided.

"We put a good service out there and we're continuing to do that, the whole team of PARTA folks doing a good job," Hairston said.