MTA Consolidation Of Bus Units Raises Seniority Concerns

By ARI PAUL

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority May 7 announced that it has begun consolidating three bus companies into one entity, a move some Transport Workers Union Local 100 officials fear will threaten seniority rights.

ELLIOT G. SANDER: 'Will improve efficiency.'

The new Regional Bus would oversee Long Island Bus, MTA Bus and New York City Transit bus operations. Joseph Smith, Senior Vice President for Buses at NYC Transit, will assume executive responsibilities at the new operation.

'Streamlining Saves Money'

"By streamlining the management of our bus companies we will eliminate redundancies, improve efficiency and service, and save money," MTA Executive Director and CEO Elliot G. Sander said in a statement. "This initiative builds on the early success of our subway general manager program, and we will continue to identify and implement ways to become more efficient and improve service for our customers."

He continued, "Unifying bus operations is also a big first step toward creating a truly regional transportation network and is a critical part of our institutional transformation agenda."

The MTA said Regional Bus will consist of "an integrated Command Center and road operations providing a single point of contact for [NYC Transit], MTA Bus and LI Bus customers in case of emergencies," and "a comprehensive travel information system with consistent, coordinated regional bus service information on the internet and handheld devices."

The MTA claimed that this will increase efficiency and response times to emergencies.

Threat to Seniority

Pete Denicolo, the Westchester chairman of Local 100's Private Lines Division, said that the new regional bus system would allow workers based in other depots to "pick" into jobs at other depots, threatening seniority rights.

"The only thing we have is our seniority," he said. "Once you take our seniority away, you might as well drive a cab."

MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin vowed that the current process creating Regional Bus would not affect seniority rights.

"At this point this is just about management," he said.

Gene Russianoff, the staff attorney for the riders' advocacy group the Straphangers Campaign, was cautiously optimistic about the plan.

'A Smart Step'

"I think that it could result in savings, better management," he said. "As a riders' advocate I'm going to watch very closely whether what they call redundancies result in cutting service. This is something particularly the TWU has raised over the years and why they opposed legislation that would have created the bus company. This seems to be like a smart step."

Mr. Denicolo added that the new structure would mean that workers would continue to report to their depots but could be assigned to different locations depending on what work was needed that particular day.

"They'll utilize the drivers the way they utilize the equipment," he said. "Nobody wants that."