“We’ve had hundreds of students missing from school because of the labor dispute was not resolved,” he said. “I’m just so excited the buses are back rolling. I’m really proud of both sides here.”
UPDATE @ 4:40 a.m. (Jan. 13):
RTA buses are back on the road as full bus service has been restored following this week’s strike by drivers and mechanics.
Our reporters observed buses take to the road at the RTA hub in downtown Dayton, shortly after the service was scheduled to resume at 4 a.m. this morning.
Greater Dayton RTA’s board of directors said they will meet 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, at Wright Stop Plaza to consider ratifying the tentative ATU Local 1385 contract.
The RTA said in a news release issued Thursday that it “wants to thank its loyal customers for their patience during the recent strike by offering ‘pay what you want’ fare through the end of January, with all proceeds collected in fare boxes going to The Foodbank Dayton.”
We’ll update this page as new information develops.
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
UPDATE @ 2:33 p.m. (Jan. 12):
RTA will offer free rides in January.
The agency said in a news release that it “wants to thank its loyal customers for their patience during the recent strike by offering ‘pay what you want’ fare through the end of January, with all proceeds collected in fare boxes going to The Foodbank Dayton.”
RTA said this week’s strike by bus drivers and mechanics for Amalgamated Transit Unit Local 1385 disrupted the lives of customers.
“We hope the gesture of this period of rides through the end of January can move people into the future and at the same time give back to those in need of help in our community through donations to The Foodbank,” an RTA news release said.
Riders will be permitted to ride free but are encouraged to to donate.
“This support will be used to provide dinner for thousands of families across our community who would otherwise go without,” said Foodbank Dayton CEO Michelle Riley. “The Foodbank is grateful for the partnership of the Greater Dayton RTA.”
UPDATE @ 12:16 p.m. (Jan. 12):
Greater Dayton RTA’s board of directors will meet 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, at Wright Stop Plaza to consider ratifying the tentative ATU Local 1385 contract.
“I’m very pleased that an agreement has been reached and very happy with the effort put forth by Mark Donaghy and his team,” Board Member David Williamson told the Dayton Daily News and WHIO.
The meeting is public.
UPDATE @ 10:45 a.m. (Jan. 12):
RTA’s board of directors will consider the ATU Local 1385 contract as early as Tuesday, a board member tells the Dayton Daily News and WHIO.
A press release from RTA states a date has not been set to vote on the contract, but it will “likely be before the board’s regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 7.” The official date and time are expected to be released today.
The union made a verbal agreement to begin bus service Friday, even though the contract will not yet be ratified.
UPDATE @ 9:36 a.m. (Jan 12):
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said she was grateful to RTA and ATU for their hard work and for coming together.
“I’m sure both sides aren’t pleased with everything that was done,” she said. “That’s usually how these negotiations go, but certainly the community won last night with buses getting back on the road and our kids can go back to school … We’re certainly grateful for the community and unnamed people, countless people, that picked up their neighbors, that picked up their friends and took care of children to make sure they got to school.”
UPDATE @ 7:48 a.m. (Jan 12):
State Rep. Niraj Antani said he believes both sides knew they would reach an agreement on Wednesday.
“I think both sides really saw the effect of the strike on their membership, as far as the union goes, and their finances, as far as the RTA goes, and knew that the strike could not go on,” Antani said. “… I really appreciate both sides being able to come to the table and work until a deal was reached to stop the strike.”
UPDATE @ 7:10 a.m. (Jan 12):
The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce issued a statement Thursday morning in response to the tentative agreement reached by the RTA and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1385 late Wednesday night.
“We congratulate both sides on staying at the negotiating table and reaching an agreement to end this strike,” Phil Parker, president & CEO, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce said in an emailed statement. “Stopping bus service for just one day creates an extreme hardship on our employers and the community as a whole. We are happy to see this issue resolved.”
UPDATE @ 12:35 a.m. (Jan. 12):
After more than 13 hours of negotiating with a state mediator, the Greater Dayton RTA and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1385 reached a tentative agreement on a new contract.
The pact must be ratified by union members and approved by the RTA board, but full bus service is set to resume at 4 a.m. Friday.
“We all had the same interest … getting the public service back on the street,” said Local 1385 President Glen Salyer.
Striking RTA drivers and mechanics standing outside the bus hub late Wednesday put their signs down and left the picket lines without comment. The pending deal brought the strike to an end just before it entered its 48th hour.
Specifics of the tentative agreement were not disclosed because a state mediator asked both sides not to release details before it was finalized.
Union officials previously said the impasse with RTA was over wages and health insurance premiums. Salyer and RTA CEO Mark Donaghy credited the state mediator with helping them to find middle ground.
“Both sides committed to staying as long as it took to get this done,” Donaghy said of Wednesday’s marathon negotiation session. “Our next step is to get buses on the street as fast as we can.”
UPDATE @ 11:30 p.m.
The RTA and ATU have reached a tentative agreement tonight, according to a statement made by negotiators.
“I want to thank Mark (Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority CEO Mark Donaghy) for staying the night and getting it done,” said ATU Local 1385 President Glen Salyer.
Full bus service is expected to resume at 4 a.m. Friday, Salyer said, and the final contract will need to be ratified by both the RTA and the union.
On Thursday, Project Mobility only will continue, the same that has been ongoing since the start of the strike.
UPDATE @ 11 p.m. (Jan. 11):
The parties remain at the Crowne Plaza Hotel as the negotiations enter the 13th hour.
Ronald Linville, the RTA’s Columbus-based attorney in the negotiations, has retrieved a shirt and suitcase from a car. Hotel staff indicate persons involved in the negotiations have reserved rooms for the night.
UPDATE @ 10 p.m. (Jan. 11):
Minutes ahead of the negotiations crossing into hour 12, ATU Local 1385 leadership said the parties are “still working on” a collective bargaining agreement to end the strike, set to enter Day Four in two hours.
UPDATE @ 9 p.m. (Jan. 11):
Crowne Plaza Dayton staff tell us RTA and ATU Local 1385 are welcome to use their facilities throughout the evening and into tomorrow, if necessary.
The negotiations have now entered their 11th hour.
UPDATE @ 7 p.m. (Jan. 11):
Mediation between ATU Local 1385 and Greater Dayton RTA have entered their ninth hour, the longest the two parties have negotiated in one sitting.
Several RTA and union executives have spent the day in-and-out of the talks, held on the mezzanine level of the Crowne Plaza Dayton.
UPDATE @ 2:40 p.m. (Jan. 11):
ATU Local 1385 and Greater Dayton RTA remain engaged in negotiations at the Crowne Plaza Dayton.
Today’s meeting involves a state-appointed mediator from the State Employment Relations Board.
Union officials said they had not yet reached agreement.
UPDATE @ 10:40 a.m. (Jan. 11):
Representatives of the Greater Dayton RTA and the ATU said they are working toward reaching an agreement today at the Crowne Plaza Dayton. The meeting was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
NewsCenter 7’s Caroline Reinwald spoke with each side before they entered the hotel.
“We want to get this done today,” said ATU Local 1385 President Glenn Salyer. “People need us to get this done.”
RTA CEO Mark Donaghy, who walked to the meeting, said he hoped to finish today.
“We’re going to get a contract,” Donaghy said. “Let’s hope we do that today.”
Asked if he would budge on any of his positions, Donaghy said, “I think I won’t answer that question.”
Others present at the hotel included Dayton Chamber of Commerce President Phil Parker, Dayton Public Schools Superintendent Rhonda Corr and DPS Board Member John McManus. All expressed a desire to see a contract negotiated today.
UPDATE @ 4 a.m. (Jan. 11):
A strike of union bus drivers and mechanics for the Greater Dayton RTA has entered its third day.
Representatives for the ATU Local 1385 and the RTA will meet today at 10 a.m. with a state-appointed mediator at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dayton.
We’ll continue to update this page with the latest on the strike and talks between the two sides.
UPDATE @ 5:28 p.m. (Jan. 10):
ATU Local 1385 President Glenn Salyer says the parties will meet tomorrow with a state-appointed mediator, 10 a.m., at the Crowne Plaza Dayton.
State Rep. Niraj Antani said: “I am very happy that both sides are coming back to the negotiating table and thank them for their willingness to negotiate until a deal is reached so this strike can stop. I thank the State Employee Relations Board for quickly making their mediator available so negotiations can resume. We must get this done for the working people of Dayton.”
UPDATE @ 2:52 p.m. (Jan. 10):
The Greater Dayton RTA has announced the state-appointed mediator is scheduling new talks.
“I wanted to update you on this matter as I understand there are a variety of statements being made,” RTA CEO Mark Donaghy said Tuesday afternoon in a press release. “Our counsel advises me that both parties have been in contact with the mediator and he is in the process of scheduling the meeting to restart the mediation.”
UPDATE @ 2:27 p.m.:
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley says Greater Dayton RTA officials and union officials have asked to sit down with a state-appointed mediator, who is not currently in Dayton.
“We are waiting to know when the (State Employment Relations Board) mediator can get here, and they cannot get here soon enough,” Whaley said. “Every hour that this goes by is a problem for the community. We want to encourage them to be at the table often and the mediator to be here on call.”
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