Trimess

Thursday, February 9, 2012

TRIMET BACKPEDALS FROM MACFARLANES UNION BUSTING COMMENT TO MICHAEL ANDERSON

Update: TriMet spokeswoman Mary Fetsch says the above interpretation of McFarlane’s statement is “inaccurate” and that “it’s premature to say that’s our strategy.”
She says McFarlane’s comments about the no-strike rule, and its attempts to begin a debate about it in the legislature, should only be interpreted as comments about the slow advance of the current negotiation.
“Does TriMet have any interest in changing the strike law?” I asked.
“Our focus right now is to get this resolved,” Fetsch replied, referring to the ATU contract that’s been in negotiation for several years. “The focus is to have the legislature bring the ATU to the table to resolve this contentius contract.”
I asked Fetsch how the legislature would help bring the ATU to the table, if not through its implicit power to change the 2007 law requested by the union. Fetsch said “the union listens to the legislature and vice versa. … Obviously the legislature can reach out to the union to encourage that this long-delayed process move along.”
I said that in this context, it seemed that raising questions about the no-strike law are a tactic to bring the union to the table.
“We don’t have that tactic,” Fetsch said.

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Our current contract would have to be amended and thus voted on by its members and passed by 66% to allow any said macfarland strike to commence. I can't see that happening, most people don't want to take the pay cut while holding up an "on strike" sign. So this being said, macfarland's days are numbered just due to cash burn. So being a tough guy bully boss did not save the day, better luck next time.