Local 1245 members at Sacramento Regional Transit twice rejected settlement offers negotiated with the assistance of a mediator.
The first offer was rejected on a vote of 13-152 on July 19. The second offer was rejected 21-137 on Aug. 19.
On-going problems in the California economy have complicated the RT talks as well as other public sector negotiations over the past couple of years. A major point of contention at RT is the District’s proposal for suspending holiday pay.
“The membership was adamant that suspending of holiday pay for holidays was unacceptable,” said Local 1245 Business Rep. Sheila Lawton.
“The members have been willing to take an additional five “furlough” days in place of the five holidays to meet the District’s needs which would allow our members to have more flexibility in the scheduling of the unpaid days off, but the District felt they absolutely had to have some holidays in addition to the 13 furlough days,” Lawton said.
The District has referred the dispute to interest arbitration for final and binding resolution. Local 1245 and the District are currently working on the selection of an arbitrator.