RICHMOND -
It's back to the bargaining table for GRTC and its drivers.
Union negotiators had reached a tentative agreement on a contract for GRTC bus drivers, but Sunday night those drivers voted overwhelmingly to reject it.
The drivers say they want separate contracts for bus drivers and Paratransit operators, a uniform allowance and job safety.
Buses are running, but that could change if the Union and GRTC fail to reach an agreement. The two sides had come to terms on a contract over a week ago.
"I've got to say, I was shocked when heard that. We came to an agreement, that I think benefitted both sides. It still maintained our goals of not laying off any employees," said GRTC CEO, John Lewis.
So, how can you still get around if there's a strike?
GRTC has contacted some area bus lines to help.
Local companies like the James River bus lines say drivers are training in case they get a call.
"We use a driving simulator, an electronic driving simulator that takes our drivers through all sorts of scenarios whether it's a tire failure, bad weather conditions, things of that nature," said President Stephen Storey.
And it's not just the James River bus lines, Winn Transportation is on the list to step in at a moments' notice.
"GRTC has been a good customer of ours. They've been a good partner of ours. What that means, however, we can help. If I've got to be out there driving, I'll do it myself," said Mark Pounders, Operation manager, for Winn Transportation.
Pounders says they have nearly two dozen bus drivers ready to go.
He says GRTC has contacted them several times in the past but the Union never ended up striking...
"It's not a good time for any company to have this happen to them. It's fulltime steady jobs that these folks have and those are the toughest jobs to lose," said Pounders.
Union President Deloris Coker tells CBS 6, the membership rejected this latest contract offer because they didn't agree with the terms of it, even though, she says GRTC did agree to make some changes.
She wouldn't go into details of those changes and neither would GRTC, only saying, that changes were made to the language in the contract.
No word on when the two sides will again with a Federal mediator.
CBS 6 is following this story and we'll keep you posted.
Union negotiators had reached a tentative agreement on a contract for GRTC bus drivers, but Sunday night those drivers voted overwhelmingly to reject it.
The drivers say they want separate contracts for bus drivers and Paratransit operators, a uniform allowance and job safety.
Buses are running, but that could change if the Union and GRTC fail to reach an agreement. The two sides had come to terms on a contract over a week ago.
"I've got to say, I was shocked when heard that. We came to an agreement, that I think benefitted both sides. It still maintained our goals of not laying off any employees," said GRTC CEO, John Lewis.
So, how can you still get around if there's a strike?
GRTC has contacted some area bus lines to help.
Local companies like the James River bus lines say drivers are training in case they get a call.
"We use a driving simulator, an electronic driving simulator that takes our drivers through all sorts of scenarios whether it's a tire failure, bad weather conditions, things of that nature," said President Stephen Storey.
And it's not just the James River bus lines, Winn Transportation is on the list to step in at a moments' notice.
"GRTC has been a good customer of ours. They've been a good partner of ours. What that means, however, we can help. If I've got to be out there driving, I'll do it myself," said Mark Pounders, Operation manager, for Winn Transportation.
Pounders says they have nearly two dozen bus drivers ready to go.
He says GRTC has contacted them several times in the past but the Union never ended up striking...
"It's not a good time for any company to have this happen to them. It's fulltime steady jobs that these folks have and those are the toughest jobs to lose," said Pounders.
Union President Deloris Coker tells CBS 6, the membership rejected this latest contract offer because they didn't agree with the terms of it, even though, she says GRTC did agree to make some changes.
She wouldn't go into details of those changes and neither would GRTC, only saying, that changes were made to the language in the contract.
No word on when the two sides will again with a Federal mediator.
CBS 6 is following this story and we'll keep you posted.
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