March 27, 2020

ATU 627 Member (Metro and Access):

As we’ve all seen over the last few weeks, the Coronavirus is changing how everyone does business. In the United States, unemployment number in one week went up by 3.28 million people. On a daily basis, ATU Local 627 officers are working hard to serve you and protect your health, economic well-being and workplace safety, conducting phone conferences with senior SORTA management to discuss what going on and to make emergency changes. I would like to personally thank Financial Secretary-Treasurer Inga McGlothin, Vice President Frank Harper, and Recording Secretary Chris Siener for all the work they have done. I would also like to thank the Executive Board for everything they done behind the scenes.

With the closing of Cincinnati Public Schools, SORTA is losing around $25,000 a day in revenue (estimated to be over $1M if CPS schools shut down permanently this school year), combined with overall ridership which dropped 60% and express routes dropped 80% in one week after Governor DeWine’s Stay-at-home/non-essential business shutdown order. At Access alone, trips are now around 100 a day which in roughly a 90% drop in one week.  Based on these circumstances, SORTA management and Local leaders decided an emergency pick was required to protect our jobs and prevent layoffs. This emergency pick is being made on a temporary basis, which we all hope will be in the short-term. In addition, I attended a special SORTA Board meeting held at Council chambers at City Hall, wherein the Board unanimously voted to stop collecting bus rider fares on a temporary, month-to-month basis, to help decrease Operator contact with riders. Finally, as we await Federal Guideline changes on how sick leave may be used, after discussions with Local leadership, Metro agreed this week to lower the waiting periods from 1 day or 2 days instead of 2 days or 4 days, on a temporary basis. 

 You should also be aware, the ATU International and President John Costa continue to fight for all ATU members, especially with regards to worker safety and the Federal economic stimulus relief, to help U.S. public transit systems recover from the devastating financial impact this pandemic is causing. While our Union Meeting for April has been cancelled, the Executive Board and local leaders conduct day-to-day phone conferences to discuss ongoing issues and stay informed, especially with what our drivers/members are witnessing on the local frontlines of this pandemic.  

As your officers, we will continue to represent and serve the best interests of our members and their families. If you are not receiving our Local 627 group text alerts, please sign up by texting ATU627BIGBUS for big bus or ATU627ACCESS for Access to the number 47400.  Group text messages are the easiest and fastest way for us to communicate with you and keep you updated on what happening and how we are managing ever-changing circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 Our number one priority has been and will continue to be your safety, whether that is on a bus, access vehicle, in the garage or in the office; as public employees and union members, we must all stand together during this crisis.

  Please be safe as we will get through this issue. 

 In Solidarity,

Troy Miller