Bus drivers, riders picket SMART board meeting 22 months into contract dispute

Outside of the Buhl Building in downtown Detroit on Thursday, more than 20 members of the Amalgamated Transit Union, picketed against what they charge are unfair working conditions, low pay and a frustrating negotiation process for the bus drivers.

For an hour, they shouted slogans like, "Who moves this city? We move this city!"

Kevin Colon, president of the ATU, said the union was picketing outside of the SMART office because "it's been 22 months with no contract."

He said the negotiations have been frustrating, accusing the SMART board of "dragging their feet" throughout the process.

Following the picket, ATU members, drivers and civilians attended the SMART board meeting. Dozens spoke at the meeting, emphasizing the need for reliable and affordable transportation options in metro Detroit.

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Long labor dispute

Building and retaining staff is a concern for all parties involved, but nobody can agree on how to make it work.

SMART's staff is made up of four bargaining units, and the transportation organization has settled contracts with three of those four, SMART General Manager Dwight Ferrell said in a statement to the Free Press. The ATU is the only outstanding contract.

The hangup, Ferrell said, is on an attendance policy and a retirement plan. "All other issues have been resolved, with agreements reached on a fair wage and benefit package," Ferrell said.

SMART bus drivers currently make a starting wage of $19 an hour. SMART union drivers have been trying to finalize a contract that would result in a 30% pay raise, Crain's reported on Thursday.

SMART drivers are feeling a pinch from the Detroit Department of Transportation, the other bus agency with buses in the city. DDOT recently increased driver's wages by $3. The starting wage jumped from $16.15 to $19.15 per hour, and employees who have worked for four years or more can expect $25.61 an hour.

Tyesha Scott, who has driven for DDOT for 26 years was at the picket in support of her "brothers and sisters" at SMART. "Everyone deserves a fair, working, living wage," Scott said.

Ferrell said that wage is close.

"SMART is committed to providing competitive wages, excellent working conditions, and safe, reliable transit services," he said. "We look forward to reaching an agreement soon that benefits both our employees and the communities we serve."

Frustrated, tired riders

Donna Lowe, 59, arrived to the board meeting on a SMART connector bus from Madison Heights during the picket. Lowe said the SMART buses have regularly let her and her family down.

"Sometimes I end up sitting on the ground, waiting for my bus," Lowe said before the board.

Lowe said once she hoped to use the bus to take her 80-year-old mother to the dentist. The bus never showed up, she said, and she had to take her shoes off and walk more than 3 miles with her mother.

According to an on-bus survey report conducted by SMART and published in January, many metro Detroiters rely on SMART buses for work and health care visits. "The results also show that SMART bus service is a lifeline for many riders, and 3 out of 4 riders are transit dependent," the report said.

“Bus riders across more than 40 routes noted that buses were late or never even showed up, impacting their trust in the system and in some cases causing problems with riders’ employers," SMART reported. “Several riders mentioned losing jobs or facing workplace discipline due to late or canceled bus service."

Mitch Mantey, 30, an attorney in Detroit who regularly rides SMART and DDOT buses, said he has seen people lose their jobs due to late or missing buses. Because of the low wages, Mantey said it's "no surprise" people are frustrated with the service and drivers are taking jobs elsewhere.

"It comes down to SMART living up to their name," Mantey said.