Metro Transit workers, including drivers, overwhelmingly vote to authorize strike
MINNEAPOLIS — Thousands of Metro Transit workers are one step closer to walking off the job. Union members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005 members voted to authorize a strike this week.
"After yesterday, they're mad," ATU Local 1005 President Ryan Timlin said. "We heard a lot of people say they're ready to go."
While some may be ready to strike, voting to authorize a strike does not mean a strike will happen. But it does give union leadership the ability to call a strike if it becomes necessary, the union said.
"The members have the final say in that. They will tell us what they want to do. They have the final vote on the contracts," Timlin said. "It's really how far they are prepared to go on this. That's the reality."
Workers are asking for pay raises to include the cost of living, safety solutions, better shift differentials and more one-piece runs. Negotiations with the Metropolitan Council started back in March and contracts expired at the end of July.
"This should wake them up and come back to the table and actually talk about financials," Timlin said.
Metro Transit ridership is up 17% from last year, but ATU leaders say they're still short about 400 operators compared to pre-pandemic levels. They believe if their demands are met, that gap will close.
"There's a lot of issues developing on the system, that are broader societal issues," Timlin said. "There's a lot of drug problems on our system. If you want people to stay, you've got to entice people to stay."
In a statement to WCCO, a spokesperson with Met Council says: "We are not anticipating any immediate service impacts at this time. Our employees are integral to serving those who rely on transit and we look forward to reaching an agreement."
Later this month both parties will come to the negotiating table. While Timlin hopes it can be avoided, if a strike does happen he hopes the public understands.
"We don't want that. But if they do, we hope that people understand that it's not us causing this," Timlin said. "If they want a system that's sustainable — we finally got dedicated funding for the first time. Act like you have dedicated funding. So that doesn't affect the ridership."
