Arbitrator selected to hear labor disputeArbitrator picked in

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Jul 5, 2008 by Phil Anderson

By Phil Anderson

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

A Kansas City-area arbitrator has been selected to settle a labor dispute between Topeka Transit and the union that represents drivers and mechanics for the city's bus system.

Members of the Amalgamated Transit Union in Topeka have been working without a contract since May 31, when their previous agreement expired.

Talks between the union and Topeka Transit broke down in June, and negotiations were sent to interest arbitration.

Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority chief executive officer and general manager Janlyn Nesbett-Tucker said she was "disappointed" the union rejected a two-year offer calling for a 2.5 percent pay hike, plus an additional .5 percent cash bonus.

"Interest arbitration will rack up huge charges on both sides," she said. "For TMTA, it will cut into operating funds. I wish our represented employees could understand that funds just aren't available."

Interest arbitration is a way of resolving a bargaining impasse. In this method, "the arbitrator ... determines what provisions the parties are to have in their collective bargaining agreement," according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Topeka Transit's offer, she said, was more generous than recent wage increases of 2.5 percent offered to state workers and 1.5 percent to Shawnee County employees.

Nesbett-Turcker said she was hopeful a decision would be made "as soon as possible" so union employees can get their wage increase.

Efforts on Thursday to reach union representatives for comment were unsuccessful.

Topeka Transit's ridership set a record in fiscal year 2008, which ended July 1, when more than 1.9 million trips were projected to have been taken. Final numbers are expected later this month.

Increased operating costs helped boost Topeka Transit's 2009 budget nearly $1.5 million, to about $9.2 million from $7.7 million in 2008.

Phil Anderson can be reached

at (785) 295-1195

or phil.anderson@cjonline.com.