Labor negotiations between the Akron Metropolitan Regional Transit Authority and its bus operators, vehicle service staff and customer care employees, represented by Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) Local 1 union, are stalled as the two sides await a factfinder’s report.
On Nov. 20, union members handed out flyers that stated, “Our safety — and the safety of our riders — are at risk.” They distributed the flyers to bus passengers waiting for their rides at the Robert K. Pfaff Transit Center in downtown Akron.
The flyers, along with a press release warning of a potential strike, sent Wednesday on behalf of TWU Local 1, outline union members’ concerns about difficult working conditions at METRO and the delay in settling their contract.
Akron METRO bus operators, vehicle service staff and customer care employees — there are 310 active union members — have not had a pay raise since June of 2023. They have worked without a contract since the previous labor agreement expired in June of 2024.
With Akron METRO transporting more than 5 million people a year in Summit County — to work, to school, to the grocery store, to doctors’ appointments and more, TWU Local 1 President Wayne Cole said losing its service would be devastating to the community.
“Regardless of what comes back with the factfinder, we want to get this contract resolved, and we don’t want to go on strike,” Cole said. “We want to keep the citizens of Summit County moving, and we don’t want any interruption of service, but, you know, we’re also willing to do whatever we have to do.”
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John Samuelsen, president of TWU International, warned in Wednesday’s release that the union will “take aggressive action if METRO doesn’t come to its senses and negotiate a fair contract.”
Cole told Signal Akron on Wednesday that METRO RTA has tightened bus operators’ schedules “to the point where we don’t have time to even use the restroom” or have a 20-minute layover “to grab a sandwich or something.” There’s also a driver shortage, Cole said.
“It’s just gotten to a point that operators are too exhausted to work more overtime,” he said.
METRO RTA CEO Dawn Distler was unavailable to be interviewed, but Grace Doyle, the transit agency’s public relations specialist, provided the following statement Dec. 8:
“We respect the right of TWU Local One and their continued demonstration under fair labor practices, and we remain committed to constructive dialogue. We continue to follow the process established by the State Employment Relations Board (SERB) and are working toward an agreement that is fair, reasonable and sustainable for all parties. We are currently in the fact-finding stage of negotiations. Our focus remains on reaching an agreement that supports employees while ensuring we can continue delivering the services our community has come to rely upon.”
U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) shared a letter that she wrote to Distler, urging the two sides to come to an agreement.
“I strongly encourage METRO RTA and the Transport Workers Union to reach a fair contract that honors the dignity of transit operators and avoids a strike so our community can continue to rely on essential public transportation,” Sykes said in the letter.
Negotiations move to factfinder, with recommendations expected soon
Cole said attorneys representing Akron METRO and Local 1 met at the negotiating table about 13 times, then quit making progress.
“Once we got to the point where we could not agree on anything, then it was moved to a factfinder which is, essentially, a third party that listens to both sides and then she draws up a decision on what she thinks would be fair,” Cole said.
He said the factfinder’s decision was supposed to take two weeks, but she asked for an extension, which both parties agreed to. Cole said as of Dec. 10, the factfinder “hasn’t given us a solid return date yet.”
Once the factfinder provides a decision, the two parties each have seven days to vote on it. If the union turns it down, they could vote to strike.
The press release also stated that local television stations will begin airing commercials this week in support of TWU Local 1 and providing awareness about its position relevant to the situation with Akron METRO.
Despite its current labor issues, METRO was named the Outstanding Public Transportation System of the Year last summer by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
The previous year, APTA gave Distler an award for CEO of the Year at the TRANSform industry conference in California.