Union and TCAT Negotiators Avert Bus Strike
A typical Friday night on the TCAT.
Terry Sharpe, President of Local 2300, said that she could not release the details of the tentative agreement until the union meets on Oct. 5 to ratify the new contract. She did say that gains were made on wages (currently an average $16/hr — not too shabby, in my estimation), attendance, and split shifts (wait time between switching routes). TCAT drivers work an average of 12.5-13 hours, Sharpe said, but a large portion of that time is spent in between shifts waiting for their next route. I guess they can only smoke so many cigarettes before they get bored.
Cornell’s ties to TCAT, a private not-for-profit transportation operator that serves the public, date back to the late 90’s, when their bus services united with two strange transit bedfellows (Tompkins County and the City of Ithaca). The board of directors is split evenly between those three systems, with Cornell holding three out of nine seats.
I love the TCAT bus drivers as much as any Cornellian, but I was curious whether the sentiment was mutual. Sharpe said that it was, because we students rely on buses to get our asses, drunk or sober, around town. So next time you get on a bus, say hi to your bus driver — he doesn’t hate you! Maybe even give him a hug… On second thought, maybe not.
Tags: TCAT
