2003 LOCAL: WALKOUT TWISTED TRANSPORTATION MTA STRIKE WAS NO. 10 IN 40 YEARS.Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer Public transportation came grinding to a halt for five weeks this fall when MTA's mechanics went on strike to preserve generous health benefits, wreaking havoc on livelihoods and traffic throughout the region. The walkout left more than 400,000 bus and train riders stranded, snarled streets and freeways, and caused the region to forfeit $4 million daily in economic losses. After 35 days and fiery barbs traded between Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials and the Amalgamated Transit Union The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) is a labor union in the United States and Canada, representing workers in the transit system and other industries. The ATU was founded in 1892, and today has more than 180,000 members in more than 273 local unions in 46 states and 9 , the two sides reached a partial agreement Nov. 17 to get service rolling. But the divisive health care issue remains unresolved, sent to a nonbinding arbitration panel arbitration panel A group of individuals charged with resolving a dispute between individuals and/or organizations. Arbitration panels to resolve investment disputes are sponsored by self-regulatory organizations such as NASD. that hopes to reach a decision in coming months. ``There's no point in trying to portray winners and losers,'' MTA (1) (Message Transfer Agent or Mail Transfer Agent) The store and forward part of a messaging system. See messaging system. (2) See M Technology Association. 1. (messaging) MTA - Message Transfer Agent. Chairman Zev Yaroslavsky said after the strike came to an end. ``There's only losers in this strike.'' MTA leadership has vowed to look into ways to end the cycle of strikes that has plagued the agency with 10 walkouts over the past 40 years. The 2,100 mechanics won a 7 percent pay raise over the 45-month contract, another day off and were able to shun the MTA's attempts at new work rules and pay structures that could have trimmed agency costs Agency Costs The costs resulting from an agent performing services for a principal. Notes: Agency costs are generally the commissions earned by agents. See also: Agency Problem, Agent, Principal Agency costs . But as they cast contract votes at the Los Angeles Convention Center The Los Angeles Convention Center (abbreviated LACC) is a convention center in downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, and was best known to video games fans as host to E3 until its cessation in 2006. , many union rank-and-file grumbled that health care issues remained unresolved. The mechanics enjoy health benefits that cost them nothing out of pocket each month and just $6 monthly for family coverage - costs that would have risen to as much as $200 monthly under the MTA proposal. Even further, the union retirees' $21 monthly payment for care would have risen under MTA's offer. The agency's bus drivers, clerks and supervisors honored the picket line, putting some 8,000 MTA employees out of work. ATU (ADSL Transceiver Unit) A device that provides ADSL modulation of the telephone line. The device at the telco side is the ATU-C (Central), which is a line card plugged into the DSLAM. President Neil Silver has said the resolution probably wouldn't have happened without a court decision in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of the walkout that allowed Mayor James Hahn and councilmen Antonio Villaraigosa and Martin Ludlow back into negotiations. The three - along with county Supervisor Gloria Molina - had been sidelined from their MTA duties under ethics rules because they had accepted campaign money from some unions. The end of the five-week shutdown came none too soon for the primarily poor and working class riders who told countless stories of struggling to get to jobs, schools and appointments without public transportation. One San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. woman told of being unable to get to her housekeeping job and then having to pay $18 for a cab ride to her doctor. A high school student hitched a ride with her teacher - among the 20,000 Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. students who rely on MTA and were left stranded. County clinics reported up to 50 percent no-shows for appointments. The MTA expects to have lost 5 percent of its riders, and it could take months to regain them. Riders now face previously approved fare hikes taking effect Jan. 1. |
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