POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess Mass Transit workers Sunday rejected the
third contract offer made by the county and First Transit, the company
that operates the service for the county.
“We’re close, but no cigar,” said Teamsters Local 445
representative Jerry Ebert.
The union wants a $1.50-an-hour raise in the second year of the contract
for its bus drivers, mechanics, call-takers, and utility workers, but
Ebert said the union has only been offered that raise to the mechanics.
But, Deputy County Executive William O’Neil said the county “must
remain fiscally responsible to all our residents and taxpayers and there
simply isn’t more money to give.”
Ebert disputed that on Monday.
“The county has a budget surplus of over $60 million so the 50-cents
extra that we are talking about would only cost about $75,000 a year.
We don’t think that would break the bank,” he said.
O’Neil said the county is “disheartened” by the union
vote against “the generous offer put forth in good faith.”
He said the county’s offer was “a competitive package most
in the industry would envy.”
Ebert said the union would reserve its right to strike for now, and instead
would try to build public opinion in favor of the drivers.
