LTD, union continue talks in effort to avert strike.Byline: Randi Bjornstad The Register-GuardThe prospect of avoiding a strike that could shut down the Lane Transit District's bus system as early as Tuesday seemed a bit more hopeful Wednesday night as negotiators for the transit agency and the union representing many of its workers adjourned after more than 12 hours of mediation. "We made some progress today," said Wendy Greenwald, state conciliator con·cil·i·ate v. con·cil·i·at·ed, con·cil·i·at·ing, con·cil·i·ates v.tr. 1. To overcome the distrust or animosity of; appease. 2. with the Employee Relations Board, who has been working with bargaining teams from both sides since December in an effort to achieve a new labor contract. "Both sides need to take a break to collect some more information," Greenwald said. The negotiations began about 9 a.m. and ended just before 10 p.m. Another session has been scheduled for 5 p.m. today at the Hilton Eugene, she said. Disagreement over health care benefits has been the "deal breaker Deal Breaker is a thriller by Harlan Coben. It is the first novel featuring Myron Bolitar. It was published in 1995. " in achieving a new contract since talks began in May. Employees represented by 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 Local 757 have worked without a contract since the previous agreement expired on July 1. Subsequent bargaining sessions failed to result in a new contract and ended in an impasse im·passe n. 1. A road or passage having no exit; a cul-de-sac. 2. A situation that is so difficult that no progress can be made; a deadlock or a stalemate: reached an impasse in the negotiations. in mid-December. Since then, the transit district A transit district or transit authority is a special-purpose district organized as either a corporation chartered by statute, or a government agency, created for the purpose of providing public transportation within a specific region. has declared its intention to impose its last best offer on union employees, and members of the union have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, which could happen as soon as 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. However, LTD LTD 1 Laron-type dwarfism 2 Leukotriene D 3 Long-term depression, see there 4. Long-term disability , which at first said it would impose a new health care plan as of today, has agreed to hold off putting the plan into effect for at least another day, pending further discussions, Greenwald said. Because of rapidly rising health care costs, the district proposed to change its union employees' previous health care plan to one already in effect for nonunion nonunion /non·union/ (non-un´yun) failure of the ends of a fractured bone to unite. non·un·ion n. The failure of a fractured bone to heal normally. workers. The proposal would change coverage from a full managed care plan to one that includes a deductible on major medical costs for employees and their families. In exchange, LTD has offered to deposit several hundred dollars each year into a health reserve account for each employee, to be used toward out-of-pocket expenses out-of-pocket expenses n. moneys paid directly for necessary items by a contractor, trustee, executor, administrator or any person responsible to cover expenses not detailed by agreement. and required co-payments. The district also has agreed not to require employees to share in monthly premiums. At least until now, the union has steadfastly demanded to continue its previous health care benefits. Several other issues also remain unresolved. |
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