VT: CCTA Reaffirms Contract Goals and Offers Clarifications

As CCTA and the drivers’ Union prepare to engage in a mediated negotiation session on Feb. 21, it would like to reiterate its goals for a new three-year collective bargaining agreement and to offer clarifications on several issues.

Since negotiations began in April 2013, CCTA has focused on four main goals:

1) To improve the quality of full-time driver positions by increasing the number of full-time drivers having regular weekly schedules.

2) To clarify work rules for drivers.

3) To improve overall driver working conditions by establishing work rules for a limited number of part-time drivers, without impacting the full-time status of any current employees.

4) Mindful that CCTA is a taxpayer-funded organization, to increase compensation for drivers in balance with the cost of living.

CCTA also wishes to clarify its past proposals with respect to several issues.

• Fair Compensation – CCTA drivers are the second highest paid transit drivers in northern New England. The current base wage for a CCTA driver with one or more years of service is $42,494 per year and with voluntary overtime drivers have made over $65,000 per year. The total compensation package for a CCTA driver with one or more years of service, inclusive of employer paid health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance and retirement, but not including overtime wages, ranges from $53,893 to $71,535.
• Spread Time – CCTA’s most recent proposals included acceptance of a Union proposal to change the maximum span of time between a split shift’s start and end time from 12.5 to 13.5 hours.
• Reduced Number of Part-time Driver Positions - CCTA’s most recent proposals have included a reduction in the number of part-time drivers. The 2010-2013 contract allowed for a maximum of 13 part-time drivers, while CCTA’s most recent proposals reduced the maximum number of part-time drivers to seven.
• Commitment to Safety - CCTA takes safety very seriously and is proud of its safety record, which compares well to similar transit systems. The 2010-2013 contract provided that for shifts scheduled by CCTA, drivers would have a minimum of 10 hours rest between clock-out on any given day and clock-in on the day that follows. CCTA has not proposed to reduce the minimum rest time in its proposals. CCTA recognizes and rewards drivers who achieve and maintain a high level of safety.

CCTA driver scheduling is a highly complex and dynamic process. To meet the needs of the public, transit services operate over a long span daily, with high peak hour staffing demands. CCTA is committed to providing quality jobs and a respectful work environment for our employees while continuing to provide a vital public service to the community