Ann Arbor bus drivers and mechanics took their frustration to the curb this week, staging an informational picket after their union contract expired at the end of March. With no successor agreement in place, workers say they are still showing up to keep buses rolling, but they want the public to know talks have bogged down over unused sick time, certification rules and rising insurance costs. Union leaders and TheRide are back at the bargaining table, yet members describe progress so far as slow and uneven.
As reported by CBS News Detroit, drivers have been working without a contract since the end of March while the Transport Workers Union has been negotiating with TheRide for nearly two months. The CBS report shows members walking the informational line and organizers calling the picket a way to build community pressure behind their demands. The outlet notes that formal negotiations remain active, but there is still no deal.
The drivers and mechanics are represented by TWU Local 171, which says the bargaining unit covers operators, maintenance crews and facilities staff at the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority. Local 171 describes the informational picket as a deliberate move to air contract disputes in public and to push for concrete gains at the table.
What Drivers Want
Union President Delisa Brown told WEMU that members were out on the sidewalk to spotlight concerns over unused sick time, certification requirements and growing insurance costs that they say are squeezing their paychecks. “Hopefully, they will continue to come to the table. Hopefully, the public will support us. And all we want is a fair contract,” Brown said. In a statement shared with WEMU, AAATA Manager of Public Affairs Jeffrey Pfeifer said the authority is committed to bargaining in good faith and to reaching an agreement that supports employees while keeping service reliable for riders.
Where Talks Stand
TheRide’s public news calendar lists an AAATA Board of Directors meeting on May 21 and recent service notices tied to a temporary Blake Transit Center closure for construction. The authority’s news page also identifies the Dawn Gabay Operations Center at 2700 S. Industrial Hwy in Ann Arbor as the main operations hub. Riders are encouraged to keep an eye on TheRide’s news page for service alerts while negotiations continue behind the scenes…